
Class Z~ H- 1 



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Book, r \~\lil 



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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




I 



<*A 'Soo^ About Autographs 



BY 

Simon Gratz 



EDITION OF 500 COPIES, OF WHICH 
THIS IS No. 



C^N^&tvB. 




SIMON GRATZ 



A BOOK ABOUT 
AUTOGRAPHS 



BY 

Simon Gratz 



ILLUSTRATED 



PHILADELPHIA 

William J. Campbell 
1920 






Copyright 1920 By William J. Campbell 



jhC3! 1920 



S)0!.A605779 



I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THE MEMORY OF 
MY LIFE-LONG FRIEND 

JAMES TYNDALE MITCHELL 

CHIEF JUSTICE OF 

THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

AND 

AN ENTHUSIASTIC COLLECTOR 



PREFACE 

THE purpose of this book, which is written 
in compliance with requests from a number 
of my friends who are collectors, is to gather 
together, in compact form, a variety of in- 
formation about autographs which is widely scattered 
and not easily accessible. Much that is valuable is 
to be found in the book written by Dr. H. T. Scott, 
entitled "Autograph Collecting"; while the more elab- 
orate work prepared by him in collaboration with Mr. 
Samuel Davey — "A Guide to the Collector of Histor- 
ical Documents, etc." — is very complete in its general 
treatment of the subject. Part of the material they 
contain has been used in the preparation of several 
chapters of the present book; and the writer freely 
acknowledges his obligations to them, as well as to 
Mons. Etienne Charavay's excellent preface to the 
Catalogue of the collection of Alfred Bovet. 

Other books, such as Mr. Adrien H. Joline's very 
entertaining "Meditations of an Autograph Collector" 
and "Rambles in Autograph Land," consist mainly of 
the text of letters in his collection, which serve as a 
basis for the expression of thoughts, observations, and 
comments, sometimes profound, sometimes humorous 



or sarcastic, but always interesting and frequently in- 
structive. The same comment is true, though in a 
much smaller degree, of the little book written by Mr. 
George R. Sims, entitled "Among My Autographs." 
These books have, therefore, a character that is literary, 
and distinctly different from the practical treatment 
of the subject which is intended to be followed in this 
volume. 

From all available sources the writer has tried to 
gather whatever will help to give collectors something 
approaching an adequate knowledge of the taste for 
collecting autographs, and its progress from small be- 
ginnings to the prominence it has now attained. In 
the belief that a portion of the subject which has hither- 
to been neglected should receive proper consideration, 
much space is given to a detailed account of a number 
of the leading collections that have, in years past, made 
their appearance at public sales after the death of their 
owners. 

If this compilation shall prove acceptable, and in 
some respects useful, to those who have been led into 
the pursuit of the very delightful hobby and recreation 
that has so long been dear to the writer, he will feel 
that his labor has not been in vain. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Portrait of Simon Gratz Frontispiece 

Autograph inscription, in an Album Amicorum, of 
Otto Von Guericke, the celebrated German ex- 
perimental philosopher, and the inventor of the 

air-pump 19 

Autograph inscriptions, in an Album Amicorum, of 
Caspar Ziegler, an able German jurist and 
Protestant canonist, and Samuel Stryk, a Ger- 
man jurist and author 19 

Authograph letter of Pierre Jean Clays, the eminent 
Belgian marine painter, written to Benjamin 

W. Austin 39 

Portrait of William Upcott 91 

Portrait of Dawson Turner 122 

Portrait of Robert Gilmor 172 

Portrait of Thomas Addis Emmet, M. D 180 

Portrait of Rev. William B. Sprague 184 

Portrait of Charles C. Jones 194 

Portrait of Elliot Danforth 196 

Portrait of Ferdinand J. Dreer 226 

Page of an autograph letter signed, of John Keats . 238 
Autograph letter of Aaron Burr written in the year 
1776, at the age of twenty, when he was an 

officer in the Continental Army 251 

Conclusion of an autograph letter of Burr written 

in the year 1795, at the age of thirty-nine 251 

Autograph letter of Francis Bacon — afterwards 
Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans — 
written some years before his elevation to the 

peerage 253 

Autograph letter of Bacon, written in the year 1619, 

when he was Lord Chancellor of England 253 

Portrait of A. H. Joline 278 



EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS USED 
IN THIS BOOK 



A. L. S., autograph letter signed. A letter entirely in 
the handwriting of, and signed by, the person named. 

A. D. S., autograph document signed. A document 
entirely in the handwriting of, and signed by, the 
person named. 

P. A. S., the same as A. D. S. 

L. S., letter signed. A letter signed by the person 
named, the body of which is not in his handwriting. 

D. S., document signed. A document signed by the 
person named, the body of which is not in his hand- 
writing. 

Folio, foolscap paper size. 

4to, letter paper size. 

8vo, note paper size. 

p., page, pp., pages. 



CONTENTS 

Concerning the taste for collecting autographs. ... 13 
The qualities that determine the value of auto- 
graphs 21 

Of the various ways in which collections have been 

formed 26 

Concerning spurious or false autographs 40 

On the progressive increase in the market value of 

autographs 69 

Concerning some noted European collections of the 

olden and of recent times 85 

Concerning collectors and private collections in the 

United States 170 

Concerning public collections of autographs 208 

On the migration and pedigree of autographs 230 

Conversations about autographs 240 

APPENDICES 

A. List of books containing facsimiles of autograph 
letters or of mere signatures 283 

B. List of commissioners to confer with the Six 
Nations and other Indians/ October 5, 1745.. . 289 

C. Delegates to the Albany Convention in 1754. . 291 

D. Delegates to the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. . 293 

E. Delegates to the Continental Congress of 1774. 296 

F. Presidents of the Continental Congress 298 

G. Revolutionary Cabinets 300 



H. Signers of the Declaration of Independence. .. 308 

I. Delegates to the Continental Congress 311 

J. Signers of the Articles of Confederation 329 

K. Delegates to the Annapolis Convention, 1786.. 332 
L. Signers of the Constitution and Members of 

the Federal Convention 335 

M. Generals of the Revolutionary War 339 

N. Washington's Secretaries and Aides-de-Camp. . 344 
O. Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United 

States 346 

P. Speakers of the House of Representatives 351 

Q. Delegates to the Peace Congress of 1861 353 

R. Members of the First Congress under the 

Constitution 359 

Index 363 



CHAPTER I 

Concerning the Taste for Collecting Autographs 

FORTUNATE should we count the man who 
has formed a taste for collecting books, auto- 
graphs, coins, engravings, postage stamps, or 
any other thing that may strike his fancy. If 
he takes a genuine interest in, and has a real love for, 
the diversion he has chosen, he is sure to derive much 
pleasure, and to gain a varying amount of intellectual 
profit, from its pursuit. 

It is good for the body, as well as the mind, to seek 
occasional relief from the tedium and cares of active 
professional or business life, by turning to one's chosen 
hobby for relaxation and quiet pleasure. 

Students of history and biography are naturally 
attracted to the great names that shine in the pages 
they have read. They cherish — if they can obtain it 
— any personal memento of one who is famous in the 



14 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

annals of literature, statecraft, royalty, war, music, 
etc., etc. A fragment of his personal attire, his watch, 
cane, seal, snuffbox, sword — in short, anything that 
was worn or used by him — is valued most highly. A 
small piece of the coffin in which he was buried, or a 
few of the hairs cut from his head, would be regarded 
as exceptional treasures. Witness the prices, as given 
in Dr. Scott's "Autograph Collecting," that such things 
have brought. In 1816, an English peer gave £750 
for a tooth of Sir Isaac Newton. For an old waistcoat 
of Rousseau's, 960 francs were given. In 1836, 500 
francs were paid for a doubtful cane of Voltaire's. 
The wig of Sterne, the author of "Tristram Shandy," 
realized, at a London auction in 1822, the enormous sum 
of 200 guineas. Two pens used in signing the treaty 
of Amiens in 1801 were purchased for £500. The hat 
worn by Napoleon at the battle of Eylau was sold in 
Paris, in 1835, for 1920 francs. Twenty years ago an 
engraved silver spur, worn by Henri IV. at his entrance 
into Paris, realized 14,000 francs. 

Of all these "gentle pastimes," the collecting of 
autographs appeals most strongly to those who seek a 
delightful relaxation in an eminently intellectual amuse- 
ment. An autograph letter from the hand of a noted 
man is the closest personal memorial of him that can 
be had. Here we have the identical paper that his 



TASTE FOR COLLECTING 15 

hands touched and on which he wrote the words we 
read — words expressing thoughts as they emanated 
from his brain. We almost feel as if we were in direct 
contact with the writer. If he was good as well as 
great, a feeling of reverence for the paper we treasure 
steals over us. We are moved by the desire to learn 
the leading events of his life; and, if he was a prominent 
character in history, we wish to know the historical 
events in which he was a participant. In this way our 
treasured personal memorial leads us into fields of in- 
tellectual activity and historical research. 

The taste for autographs dates back to ancient 
times, when people wrote on tablets of wax or on papy- 
rus. Mr. Joline, in his entertaining "Meditations of 
an Autograph Collector," tells us that "it existed among 
the Greeks in the palmy days of their civilization. It 
is related that the third Ptolemy refused to supply the 
starving Athenians with wheat, unless he was allowed 
to borrow the original manuscripts of ^Eschylus, 
Sophocles, and Euripides, in order that he might make 
copies of them. . . . Cicero was an enthusiastic col- 
lector, as were also the Consul Mucianus and Libanius 
the Sophist." 

Whether these manuscripts of great writers were 
desired merely for literary purposes, or whether an 
additional and special interest was attached to them as 



16 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

original autographic papers, does not appear. The 
probability is that they were not sought in the way or 
for the reasons that, at a much later period, led to the 
collecting of autographs. 

William S. Walsh, in his "Hand-Book of Literary 
Curiosities," speaks thus of autograph hunting: "Spo- 
radic cases are, indeed, recorded at a very high antiquity; 
but it is only during the last two centuries that it has 
reached the epidemic stage. The first case ever re- 
corded was that of a certain Atossa. Little is known 
about her, save that she was not the mother of Darius, 
though she may have been the mother of the autograph 
collector. . . . But we really are not on solid 
ground until we reach the great name of Cicero. We 
know that he had a collection, and a fine one; for he 
speaks of it with gratulation. The fever, even in those 
early days, was contagious. It spread to his contem- 
poraries; it raged with some violence among his im- 
mediate successors. Pliny mentions one Pompeius 
Secundus, at whose house he had seen autographs of 
Cicero, Augustus, Virgil, and the Gracchi. Yet Pliny, 
who bows to Secundus as his superior, himself possessed 
a collection. Then came the eruption of the barba- 
rians, and good-by to the collector and his collections. 
We do not meet him again until the beginning of the 
sixteenth century. Then he reappears in the person 



TASTE FOR COLLECTING 17 

of a certain Bohemian squire who, about the year 1507, 
began keeping a book which recorded his exploits of 
the chase, and in which, as a further refresher of his 
memory, he collected the signatures of his great hunter 
friends. This he called his Album Amicorum, probably 
in memory of the Roman Album, from albus, white, a 
blank tablet for making entries. The custom soon ex- 
tended all over Germany, not merely with hunters, but 
more especially with travellers who, on returning from 
the grand tour, would proudly exhibit their Alba in 
proof of the good company they had kept while on the 
road. By the seventeenth century it had reached 
France, and evidently it was just beginning to be heard 
of by Englishmen anxious to emulate foreign fashions 
in 1642, when James Howell included in his "Instruc- 
tions for Forreine Travel" this item: "Some do use to 
have a small leger book fairly bound up table-book- 
will [table-book- wise], wherein when they meet with 
any person of note and eminency, and journey or pen- 
sion with him any time, they desire him to write his 
name, with some short sentence which they call the 
mot of remembrance, the perusall whereof will fill one 
with no unpleasing thoughts of dangers and accidents 
passed." 

John Gough Nichols, in his preface to "Auto- 
graphs of Royal, Noble, Learned, and Remarkable 



18 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Personages conspicuous in English History from the 
reign of Richard the Second to that of Charles the 
Second," says: "Our earliest signatures of laymen of 
rank commence with the reign of Richard the Second. 
Familiar epistles are not found until the reign of Henry 
the Fifth. We have nothing earlier than the fifteenth 
century which can be called a familiar letter. . . . 
The first collections of autographs were probably those 
entitled Alba Amicorum. . . . Isaak Walton, in 
his biography of Sir Henry Wotton, defines an 'Albo' 
.to be 'a white paper book which the German gentry 
usually carry about them for the purpose of requesting 
eminent characters to 'write some sentence in.' No. 
933 in Humphrey Wanley's catalogue of the Harleian 
Manuscripts is described as a paper book in octavo, 
bound longwise, being one of those which the Germans 
call Albums, and are much used by the young travellers 
of that nation, who commonly ask a new acquaintance 
[even at the first meeting] to write some sentence there- 
in, with a compliment to the owner's learning, good 
sense, etc. Which done, the names gotten are laid be- 
fore the next new face, and the young man upon all oc- 
casions, especially at his return, by these hands demon- 
strates what good company he has kept." 

These Alba Amicorum are very numerous. In 
the year 1862 there were said to be upwards of six 



1 X"> N " 



if?? 








VJMA JiekAslj 



■v&-~ 



JZ. 















Upper — Autograph Inscription in an Album Amicorum of Otto von Guericke, 
the celebrated German experimental philosopher, and the inventor of the air-pump. 

Lonver — Autograph Inscription in an Album Amicorum of Caspar Ziegler, an 
able German jurist and Protestant Canonist, and Samuel Stryk, a German jurist 
and author. 



20 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

hundred of them in the manuscript department of the 
British Museum, one of which contains the rare auto- 
graph of the poet Milton. The earliest is that num- 
bered 1178 in the Egerton Mss. It bears date 1554. 
No. 851 in the Sloane Collection is also a notable early 
example. It was formed in 1579, commences with the 
motto and signature of the Due d'Alencon, the suitor 
of Queen Elizabeth, and has on the opposite page a 
short inscription by the Emperor Matthias of Germany. 
At the present day they frequently occur at auc- 
tion sales or in dealers' catalogues in Germany, and 
bring prices varying from high to moderate according 
to the importance of the names they contain. Many 
of them have been taken to pieces to obtain autographs 
of noted persons that are not procurable in the form of 
letters. 



CHAPTER II 

The Qualities that Determine the Value of 

Autographs 

IN considering the qualities that determine the 
value of autographs it seems scarcely necessary to 
remark that the only letters or documents which 
are welcomed as ornaments in the cabinets of 
collectors, and which have a definite and well sustained 
market value, are those of men and women who have 
achieved note in some particular walk of life or have 
held positions of commanding prominence. Occa- 
sionally it may happen that a collector will, for some 
special reason, desire a letter of one who was unknown 
to fame or, perhaps, had earned the horrid fame which 
attaches itself to a few notorious criminals. Thus, a 
letter of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President 
Lincoln, brings a large price; as, probably, would let- 
ters of the fanatics who killed King Henry of Navarre, 



22 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

the Due de Guise, and the Duke of Buckingham. 

What, then, are the factors that settle the rank of 
an autograph letter or document, as well as its market 
value? 

First. The genuineness of the paper — that is, the 
authenticity of the handwriting — must be undoubted. 
This is an absolute requisite. Where the shadow of a 
reasonable doubt hangs over a paper, a prudent buyer 
will not becomes a purchaser. 

Second. The most illustrious names that shine in 
the pages of history, literature, etc., are, of course, 
those that will command the highest prices; as they are 
sought for by all collectors. Of the names that come 
in this class, those that are most rarely met with are 
naturally the most costly. For example, Tasso or 
Corneille would bring vastly more than Addison or 
Pope in the literary series; while for such names as 
Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, and others that, as the 
French say, are presque introuvables, a man of great 
wealth might be willing to pay a small fortune. In 
American autographs we have the well known instances 
of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
Thomas Lynch, junior, and Button Gwinnett; of the 
former of whom only one autograph letter signed is 
known, and of the latter nothing better than a letter 
signed. A good A. L. S. 4to or folio of either would 



DETERMINING VALUES 23 

readily bring from five to ten thousand dollars in the 
present condition of the market for such rarities. 

Third. The character of the contents of the letter 
or document plays a large part in the answer to the 
inquiry about value. A love letter from a noted poet 
or prose-writer — as, for example, one of Dean Swift's 
letters to Stella, or one of the many that John Keats 
wrote to Fanny Brawne — is worth much more than a 
letter with ordinary contents. One that contains 
material for history is, in like manner, more valuable 
than one devoid of any particular interest. A good 
A. L. S. 4to of King Charles I., of England, with unim- 
portant contents, may to-day [when prices are tre- 
mendously inflated] be worth from £30 to £50; whereas 
the remarkable letter to the Marquis of Ormond, which 
is twice named in other chapters of this book, would 
probably bring ten times as much. So, while an or- 
dinary A. L. S. of Sir Walter Raleigh may be estimated 
at £75 to £100, that which was recently sold in the 
Huth sale brought, on account of its pathetic and very 
interesting contents, £520; an enormous figure when we 
consider that £84 was thought to be a high price for it 
at the Young sale in 1869. And whereas a letter, with 
contents of no particular importance, of the unfortunate 
Sir Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, might be 
rated at £30 or £40, that which he wrote to his wife, 



24 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

while he was a prisoner in the Tower, expressing his 
belief that there was nothing in the charge against him, 
or that "at the worst, his Majesty will pardon all" — 
which produced £40.10.0 at the Baker sale in 1855 — 
would be likely to realize not less than five times that 
amount to-day. 

Fourth. The celebrity or station of the person ad- 
dressed is far from being an unimportant factor. Take, 
for example, the letters, in the Tremont collection, of 
Kings and Queens written to other crowned heads; 
such as those of Queen Elizabeth to King Henry III 
[of France], Francis I. [of France] to the Emperor 
Charles V., Henry VIII. to Catherine de Medicis, 
James I. [of England] to Henry IV. [of France], and 
Louis XII. to the Emperor Maximilian. We do not 
need to be told why such a letter has a value much in 
advance of that which attaches to one written by a 
Sovereign to a subject on an ordinary affair of State. 

Fifth. The length of the letter is also to be taken 
into account; though it is hard to understand why the 
number of pages should influence value, unless the in- 
terest of the contents keeps pace with the quantity of 
written words. 

Sixth. The condition of the letter is a matter for 
consideration. A dilapidated or worm-eaten paper, 
or one in which the ink, by its corrosive qualities, has 



DETERMINING VALUES 25 

destroyed portions of the text — as is quite common with 
Italian letters of the 16th and 17th centuries — is thus 
robbed of much of its commercial value. Any imper- 
fection in the signature has a like effect. 

Seventh. A full A. L. S. 4to or folio is far more val- 
uable than a letter merely signed by the writer or a docu- 
ment signed, unless the historic interest of the two latter 
should offset the difference; and letters or manuscripts 
on paper are much more desirable than those on vellum. 

Lastly. The taste that prevails at any particular 
period has a large influence upon prices. This fact 
can be well illustrated by the series of American cabinet 
officers and that of members of the Continental Con- 
gress. Thirty or forty years ago nearly all collectors 
paid attention to the names in these series, and they 
were in constant demand at good prices. To-day, for 
some inexplicable reason, they have fallen into almost 
complete neglect and have consequently lost most of 
the value they once had. They may, however, at 
some time in the future, regain their old rank. 



CHAPTER III 

On the Various Ways in Which Collections Have 
Been Formed 

AS a preliminary remark it may be said that 
collections of letters which are merely replies 
to requests for the autographs of the persons 
addressed are not recognized as having any 
place in the sphere of legitimate collecting and are 
practically without interest or pecuniary value. As 
W. S. Walsh says, in his "Handy-Book of Literary 
Curiosities": "Legitimate collectors limit their fad 
to the serious collection of autographs that are in the 
market. They look down with scorn upon the ama- 
teurs who beg signatures that may be had for the ask- 
ing. It is the latter, indeed, who have brought the 
autograph-hunter into disrepute. They are a sore trial 
to the patience and the morality of statesmen and men 
of letters, who are apt to become ferociously and even 
blasphemously contemptuous." 



p?i5.zi:5::::iri::=:.e :c„ecc:c: 
by men :■: edntaticm rermement. an 
is a. naturai ttnsecuence, the —3.7s 
in pursuing- their hcbby have been such as ""ere i: 



by the rich ::' masses :: ietters and manuscripts -vhich 
:.a: accumulated, far many penerati :.us. in :be archives 
:: farrhiies :: ancient :: rmble lineage. When, in the 
r. : ;.;' rart :: the Irrh cencurv. a .aire arc stead'." m- 
::m ; r in the number ::' rcllecrcrs began t: manifest 
itself. .1 ierltimate business in tne purrnase ana saie 
:: anregraphs ~as develrped: and men :: repute termed 
their collect: cms by the gradual accuisirirm eitner by 
purchase, rift, :r exchange. :: tne names they —anted. 
At a iater cay. a nuntcer :■: men t'rcm ~n:m tetter 
things might nave teen enretted. restated t: ntetn:ds 
vehicle, in varying decrees. ~ ere discreairarie. Tc 
stme ot these attentitn ~;ii z.z~ ce airetted. 

?ne :: tne rest hn:~ n ana nttst successful :: the 



28 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

positions, and asking for the date of their election or 
appointment to the particular office, the time when the 
duties of the position were assumed, etc. His custom — 
as he unblushingly stated it to a brother collector who 
was seeking the same kind of material — was to precede 
the letter of request for information with one expressing 
regret that no answer had been received to an inquiry 
contained in a letter written on a given date; no such 
letter having been written. He would then get a reply, 
saying that the letter [never written] had not come to 
hand; and that, if the inquiry were repeated, the in- 
formation would, if possible, be given. Thereupon, a 
second letter was written, stating the particular infor- 
mation desired. Of course, it was answered; and thus, 
as this collector said, "I got two letters, instead of one, 
from each person addressed, and so acquired a good deal 
of material for exchange." How he could consider such 
conduct as entirely honorable is something that is not 
easy to understand. But even after obtaining two 
letters from his unfortunate victim he was not content 
to leave him without further annoyance. The man 
who had courteously replied to requests which were 
made under false pretence was then importuned, in a 
way which the writer supposed would flatter his vanity, 
for letters of prominent persons who had been his cor- 
respondents; and this appeal brought many hundreds 



F0RJ.1IXG COLLECTIOXS 29 



of autographs tt r.: s collection. He carried his bold- 
ness s: far as to ask ah the American peers, from the 
most eminent dc~n to these of mediocre rank, for 
t m 1 i autograph copies of :ne cr more of their best kmevrr. 
t tents : and. stranre t: sam tne ooem "as aimost ai""a""s 



In "The Archivist" fcr July. 1559. there is an ar- 
ticie entitied "Pseudo Autograph Collectors." which 
says: "We have seen retcrded lately in one :: our 
journals the various devices :;~ "hum rrv,.:; collectors 
endeavor to obtain the autographs zi eminent con- 
temporary men and women. . . . Letters are 
:.:~ written t: autntrs m praise or tneir wcrus. and 
for an ettolanation :: s:nte namicular uassare. etc. 

sized picture :n a riven subject, and many ingenious 
methods are adopted, by natter. - and otherwise, to 
obtain toe coveted epistle. A genuine autograph col- 
lector ores net stoop :: such methods fcr enriching his 
store. The following story will show how successful an 
hmposter "'as in duping some of the principal men of 
the day. Thirty-hve years ago there vras a young 
Frer mm an we ce 'eve ms tea. name wa c Lfuo'v'^ 
Picard; who. under various aliases, addressed himself 
to nearly even* distinguished name in Europe, not for 
any pecuniary assistance, ah no! he had grown sick 



30 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

of life and thought seriously of quitting it. . . . He 
was one of the odious race of the unappreciated; at 
one time an unfortunate and neglected artist, at an- 
other a poet or musician, whom the world had used ill, 
and driven to despair. Could the recipient of the letter 
give him any philosophical reason why he should not 
blow his brains out, etc. . . . But he always in- 
formed those to whom he wrote that he would stay his 
hand from committing any rash act until he had re- 
ceived their valuable counsel and advice. In this way 
he received some hundreds of communications in re- 
sponse to his pathetic appeal, some in anger, others in 
jest, but by far the greater number written in sym- 
pathy for his wretched and forlorn condition and using 
every argument to dissuade him from laying violent 
hands on himself. It is a pity so much rose-water 
should have been poured over such a reptile; as these 
eloquent arguments and homilies were never read, but 
when received were sent at once to a well-known auto- 
graph dealer of the Faubourg Saint Germain and con- 
verted into ready cash, which the recipient dissipated 
upon his vagabond amours or at the counter of an 
auber'ge. ... In this way he succeeded in extract- 
ing letters from Beranger, Heine, Georges Sand, Montal- 
embert, Dumas, Eugene Sue, Jules Janin, Xavier de 
Maistre, Lacordaire, Espartero, and Charles Dickens. 



FORMIXG COLLECTIOXS 31 

The letter of Dickens was particularly sympathetic, 
and begged him to be courageous and to bear the ills 
that beset so many people in this life. . . . With this 
imposter all went merry as a marriage bell for some time, 
until by merest chance he was detected by Jules San- 
deau, the novelist, who had received one of these press- 
ing appeals. Instead of answering it by letter, like a 
true Samaritan he thought he would go and see 'Mis- 
errimus' himself, and try what could be done to help him 
upon the spot. He accordingly went to Grenelle, 
from which suburb these despairing appeals were ad- 
dressed. After a great deal of trouble, the soi-disant 
suicide was discovered carousing with some boon com- 
panions at a neighboring cabaret, and preparing to 
draw up fresh leases of his life in the shape of more 
pathetic circulars. On his return to Paris M. Sandeau 
lost no time in communicating with the press and ex- 
posing the whole imposture." 

In the month of May, 1899, there was sold at 
auction, in Philadelphia, the collection of autograph 
letters of Confederate and Union Generals in the 
Civil War, of the persons who held official positions 
under the Confederate Government, and of a number 
of miscellaneous names of other periods, that had been 
formed by Mr. Belmont Perry, a lawyer of Woodbury, 
N. J., during the thirty-live years preceding the sale. 



32 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The mode of formation of the greater part of this col- 
lection was exposed when the papers were placed on 
sale. It appears that, shortly after the close of the 
Civil War, Mr. Perry resolved to attempt to gather 
autograph letters of all the generals who had served on 
either side, and of all other prominent Confederate 
characters. At this time, by far the greater part of 
these men were living, and it was easy to communicate 
with them by letter; the only trouble being that inci- 
dent to ascertaining their addresses. Rightly sup- 
posing that an ordinary request for the autograph of 
the person addressed would meet with a limited and an 
unsatisfactory response, he determined to pose as an 
historian. He represented himself to the ex-Confeder- 
ates who were living, and to the families of those who 
were dead, as having commenced the preparation of a 
history of the war, in which full justice was to be done 
to the part taken by those who were engaged on the 
Southern side; and that, for the accomplishment of this 
purpose, he desired to obtain, from living generals, 
autograph letters giving their full military records, and, 
in some instances, autograph copies of certain short 
military reports that had been made by them while in 
the field. The families of the deceased generals were 
asked to give, or lend, any letter or letters in their pos- 
session, written during the war, that contained inter- 



FORMING COLLECTIONS 33 

escirg information. In addressing =urdv:ig L~>::c: 
generals, and the families of these who were no longer 

living, he adopted the same tactics: except that he 
titer, became the prospective aurhrr of a history of the 
war in which the part taken by aii e~\:: v : generals was 
to be fully shown, so that do nance should faii to receive 
proper notice in the pares of nis book. Tons repre- 
senting the project he had in hand, his requests met 
with a very iarge response. The pitiful side of the case. 
and that which subjects it t: severe condemnation. 
iies in the fact that, in a number of instances, the 
widows :: deceased generais sent him ietters upon the 
express condition :r.a: : : :r. :'■: ::..'.:" ': -: -owm aw :kr: 
-..:.: :■:■:-. ;;;u:, One widow wrote several tintes. beg- 
ging for the return of the treasured letter of her hus- 
band which was the inly one she had. Subsequent 
correspondence which Mr. Perry had. unfortunately 
for himself, failed to destroy, showed that no attention 
was paid to these earnest requests for the return of the 
letters so lent; and they were included in the sale 
cata.OiUe. 

A large and interesting collection of autographs 
which was scld at auction not many years ago was 
formed, in part, in a way that merits a very prencunced 
disapproval The ccllector in question held an impor- 
tant office which cave him acce-s to the Civil War cir- 



34 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

respondence of the Adjutant-General of one of the 
leading States. From this source he obtained thou- 
sands of letters of Generals, addressed to the Governor 
or Adjutant-General of the State, on the subject of 
regimental appointments; and, after reserving as many 
of these as he wanted for his own use, the remainder 
were exchanged for other names needed or were sold. 
A few years afterwards, when his collection had 
become large and he was endeavoring to complete all 
the different American series, he conceived the idea 
that some of the rare and much sought for names might 
be discovered among the papers filed in the offices of 
Prothonotaries, Sheriffs, Registers of Wills, and other 
County offices, as well as in the correspondence pre- 
served among State records. Diligent search rewarded 
him most bountifully. He found in one public office, 
and was allowed to take, as many as fifty, or more, 
official autograph documents signed of one of the mem- 
bers of the Congress of 1774 whose signature was so 
rare that the only example of it ever offered for sale 
had commanded the price of $200. A number of these 
documents, when placed in the hands of dealers, were 
greedily taken at 3100 apiece, each purchaser supposing 
he had secured a great rarity. When, after a time, the 
market became glutted with them, their price fell to 
315, with few or no takers. 



FORMING COLLECTIONS 35 

The offices of the Prothonotaries of the Courts in 
several States yielded, in like manner, quantities of 
legal papers in the handwriting of men who were law- 
yers by profession, and who had been signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, members of the Conti- 
nental Congress, or had held other public positions 
during the Revolutionary contest. Many names that 
had heretofore been very rare and high priced became, 
after the market demand had been satisfied at large 
prices, practically unsalable on account of the huge 
supply. 

Visits were paid to the Capitols of two Southern 
States; and permission was given to take, from the 
papers remaining on file in the offices of the Governor 
and the Secretary of State, whatever was wanted. 

If this over-zealous collector had limited himself 
to taking a single specimen only, of any particular name, 
for his own use, the criticism attaching to his conduct 
would be much milder; but when whole bundles of 
letters or documents of one man were taken from a 
public office, to be sold or used in exchange, a more pro- 
nounced disapproval is deserved. 

The last instance that will be given of highly im- 
proper ways of forming collections of autographs is 
that of Ben W. Austin, of Sioux City, Iowa; whose bare- 



36 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

faced audacity almost passes belief. Some time about 
the year 1875, Mr. Austin commenced the formation 
of his collection by writing to noted people, requesting 
their autographs. The measure of his success is told 
in the following article which appeared, on Dec. 14, 
1884, in "The Sunday Telegram," of Sioux City. 
"One of the most extensive and valuable collections of 
autographs in this country is that possessed by Mr. 
Ben W. Austin of this city. It is only by the most 
indefatigable effort, and at great expense, that Mr. 
Austin has been able, in nine years, to make this col- 
lection. ... It has cost him for postage, etc., at 
least ?2000, and would easily bring, if sold to a con- 
noisseur in the interesting art, 310,000. Some idea of 
the constant study and work required in collecting 
his 3000 or more autographs may be had when it is 
known that during 1883 Mr. Austin wrote 2181 letters 
containing requests for autographs, and during 1884, 
when he had not so much time as last year, he wrote 
1314 letters The autographs include those of noted 
people and men of rank from all quarters of the globe. 
They are in almost all known languages. . . . This 
grand collection is not only a credit to Mr. Austin, 
whose enterprise and energy have secured such souve- 
nirs, but to Sioux City as well. Mr. Austin is well known 
among the most famous collectors, and many letters 



FORMING COLLECTIONS 37 

express surprise that he, in this 'remote spot,' should 
take such an interest in these things." 

In 1884 or 1885 he devised a new plan for obtaining 
the covered autographs of noted living people, in order 
that he might increase — if such a thing were possible 
— his reputation as one of the most famous collectors!! 
He founded an imaginary Society, to which he gave the 
imposing title of "The Xorthwestern Literary and 
Historical Society," and of which he made himself the 
imaginary Secretary, with an imaginary George D. 
Chester, D.D., LL.D., as President. Equipped with 
the requisite seal and with suitable stationery, he 
proceeded, in his capacity of Secretary, to write to men 
of note in all countries, informing them that they had 
been elected honorary members of this Society in 
recognition of their rank in the world of letters, art, or 
whatever profession or pursuit they followed. The 
persons thus addressed, taking it for granted that 
"The Xorthwestern Literary and Historical Society" 
was a respectable — perhaps a notable — American In- 
stitution, and doubtless feeling flattered by the com- 
plimentary tone of the letter of notification, accepted 
the honor of election in letters such as might be ex- 
pected from men of politeness who were the frequent 
recipients of such honors. After the Society — that is, 
Mr. Austin — had elected an honorary member, and 



38 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

had received an acceptance of the honor conferred, 
Mr. Secretary Austin would again write to the new 
member, telling him how much the Society would value 
his photograph, to hang on the wall of its building, 
and how grateful it would be if he could give it — that is, 
Mr. Austin — -for preservation among its archives, any 
letters of noted people of the period. So far as could 
be judged from the character of the collection which 
went to the auction rooms after Mr. Austin's death, 
these additional requests did not seem to have brought 
satisfactory results. Perhaps a large part of the very 
considerable number of honorary members of this 
unique Society may have become suspicious. Some 
of them may have even gone so far as to make inquiries 
about it. At all events, when Mr. Austin and the im- 
aginary creature of his creation suffered the common 
lot of humanity, and passed out of existence, his be- 
longings — or perhaps we should say those of the 
Society — were ruthlessly sacrificed under the hammer 
of the auctioneer, and the proceeds of sale, deducting 
expenses, were much less than the 32000 which, ac- 
cording to "The Sunday Telegram," had been spent 
for postage. 



FORMING COLLECTIONS 39 






v~ 




^Z**-<*f < -57-*-5^»-5> ,.^C-T.-7 '..£-* C-J^-d-<*' £^»<^Z> , 




*^r ^<«-#-^**t£_ 



Autograph Letter of Pierre Jean Clays, the eminent Belgian marine painter, 
written to Benjamin W. Austin. 



CHAPTER IV 

Concerning Spurious or False Autographs 

TEMPTED by the high prices to be had for 
genuine letters of certain men or women of 
note, disreputable people, skilled in imitat- 
ing handwriting and having the requisite 
amount of literary attainment, have sought to put 
money in their pockets by foisting upon trustful and 
inexperienced collectors letters they have manufac- 
tured. While such rogues — for they can be called by 
no other name — have, in some instances, met with a 
fair measure of success, the majority of them have soon 
been exposed, and have learned that dishonesty, such 
as they were practising, could not thrive. 

They have been of various nationalities — French, 
German, British, Italian, and, in small measure, 
American. 

As a general rule they have limited their false 
productions to a few names for which, at the time, there 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 41 

was a special demand. Some of their work was so good 
as not to be easily detected; but the greater part of it 
failed to deceive even those who were not experts, 
but who exercised reasonable judgment in considering 
the question of genuineness. There are many things 
that the worker in this nefarious field must, if he hopes 
to be at all successful, bear constantly in mind. The 
paper on which he writes must be of the period at which 
the letter is to bear date; the ink must have the pecu- 
liar appearance that age gives to it; the handwriting 
must not only, in general respects, be an exact imita- 
tion of that which is to be counterfeited, but great 
attention must be paid to peculiarities in the formation 
of certain letters, the capitalization of words, the spell- 
ing, the punctuation, the style, the literary quality, 
the date, the character of the contents, etc. etc. Be- 
sides all this, the way in which the letter is folded 
must accord with the custom of the time at which it 
purports to have been written, and its creases and stains 
must bear the appearance of genuine age. Such are 
the difficulties the counterfeiter must contend with 
when he attempts to fabricate the contents, as well as 
the handwriting, of a letter or document; and the great- 
est combination of skill and care will scarcely avail to 
save him from making some error which shall prove 
fatal to him. Where he is merely making a false du- 



42 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

plication of a genuine original, his pathway is a some- 
what easier one to travel. 

The trained eye rarely fails to detect the falsity of 
an autograph. The skilled expert will, with perfect 
assurance, pronounce for or against the genuineness of 
a letter, and will give the exact reasons for his judgment. 
Nor can he be deceived by any of the tricks that are 
used to aid the acceptance of the forgery; as, for ex- 
ample, the fact that, in order to suggest age, the paper 
has been repaired after it has purposely been torn or 
its edges made ragged. Such experts are, oi course, 
few in number; but, of these few, we occasionally meet 
with one whose skill seems to come from a sense of 
intuition. 

M. Etienne Charavay, in his excellent preface to 
the catalogue of Alfred Bovet's collection of autographs 
— afterwards published as a pamphlet, with the title 
of "La Science des Autographes" — states some inter- 
esting facts relating to the authenticity of autographs. 
He tells us that the first fabrications appeared in Paris 
about 1840, and that they were in all respects — hand- 
writing, style, paper, ink, and traces of seals — well 
done. When mingled, as they often were, with numer- 
ous authentic letters from family papers, they were 
accepted as genuine. Such names as those of Rabelais 
and Bayard — of whom genuine letters are unknown in 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 43 

private collections — were thus fabricated. These spu- 
rious letters of Rabelais are dated from Italy; while, in 
point of fact, at the time they pretend to have been 
written, Rabelais was in Paris or in Montpellier. The 
falsity of those that appeared in the Tremont collec- 
tion has been established beyond question. But the 
forger went a step too far. He was not content to imi- 
tate handwriting: he invented it. The genealogical 
cabinet of Letellier was filled with such pieces. They 
were well conceived and executed; but when examined 
by experts and scholars, their falsity was determined. 
The same hand, the same ink, appeared on letters of 
persons living in times far apart. Three names — 
those of Racine, Boileau and La Fontaine — particu- 
larly tempted the forger. Their handwriting was easy 
to imitate; the text of the letters of the first two was 
furnished by correspondence in the Bibliotheque Na- 
tionale; and that of La Fontaine was taken from his 
Fables. Many of Letellier's fabrications found their 
way into the Chambry collection; but they were re- 
jected by Charavay, and marked by him as false, when 
he prepared the catalogue of that collection. 

It is greatly to be regretted that a number of these 
counterfeit autographs have found their way into 
English and American collections. If they had first 
been submitted to competent French experts, they 



44 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

would have been rejected by the men who bought them 
in ignorance of their real character. As M. Noel 
Charavay says, in a private letter, in which he speaks 
of letters of La Fontaine and Racine: "Many spurious 
ones circulate; but this is not easy in France, where 
they are hunted down. A dealer would be disqualified 
if he ventured to sell any such, because everything has 
been done to avoid errors." 

Letters of Louis XVI., Marie Antoinette, and 
Madame Elisabeth have also been extensively counter- 
feited in France; while the forger has occasionally 
turned his attention to other names, of which he has 
produced either a single specimen only or a very lim- 
ited number. Upon one occasion forty guineas were 
paid for a spurious letter of Henry the Eighth, the work 
of one of these men. 

No account of French forgeries would be complete 
without the story of the famous case of Vrain Lucas; 
which is told in extenso in a pamphlet written by M. 
Etienne Charavay. The forger was a Frenchman of 
middle age and fair education who, with the most 
astounding audacity, and with unusual skill, great 
perseverance, and information gained from much read- 
ing, manufactured 27,000 pieces which he sold to M. 
Michel Chasles — a noted geometer and mathematician 
— during a period of eight years, for the sum of 140,000 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 45 

francs. How M. Chasles could have been so easily 
and completely deceived and imposed upon is a marvel. 
It seems that, at one time during his dealings with 
the forger, his suspicions were aroused and expressed; 
but they were quieted when Lucas promptly offered 
to take back everything he had sold and to return the 
money that had been paid him. 

A train of events led to the complete exposure of 
these forgeries. Prior to July, 1867, M. Chasles had 
presented the Academy of Belgium with two letters 
from Charles the Fifth [of Germany] to Rabelais. 
They were accepted as genuine, though their authen- 
ticity was contested by an expert whose authority to 
speak could not be denied; and their falsity was finally 
settled by the fact that they were addressed to "Master" 
Rabelais — a form of address not then in use — and that 
one of them bore a pretended endorsement, by Rabelais, 
of "Letter from the Emperor Charles the Fifth," 
whereas, during his lifetime he was never mentioned 
otherwise than as "The Emperor." 

Shortly afterwards, the French Academy of Sci- 
ences was profoundly moved by the production, by 
M. Chasles, of letters written by the great Pascal to 
Boyle and Sir Isaac Newton, showing that he, and not 
Newton, was the discoverer of the law of gravitation. 
These letters aroused the interest of the scientific world 



46 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

in England and France, and their genuineness was de- 
bated for a considerable time; but when Sir David 
Brewster showed that Newton was a child of less than 
eleven years of age at the date of the pretended letters 
of Pascal addressed to him, and a French critic called 
attention to an admitted historical fact showing that 
Pascal could not have written the letters, the contro- 
versy came to an abrupt end. The falsity of another 
letter, addressed by Pascal to Queen Christina, was 
demonstrated by the forger's use of certain words that 
were unknown in Pascal's time and by the discovery of 
the fact that the contents of the letter were similar to, 
and in large part identical with, the language of a 
certain Eulogy on Descartes. 

M. Chasles rather unwillingly yielded to the press- 
ure of his friends and dislosed the name of the man 
from whom he had obtained these papers. The forger 
was tried before the tribunal of the Seine on February 
16, 1870, was convicted of swindling, and was sen- 
tenced to an imprisonment of two years and the pay- 
ment of a fine of 500 francs. 

At the trial M. Chasles testified that when Lucas 
first came to him he stated that a great quantity of 
valuable autograph letters originally gathered by the 
Comte de Boisjourdain, an emigrant to America in the 
year 1790, who had perished in a shipwreck, but whose 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 47 

collection had been saved, had been placed in his 
hands to sell. M. Chasles believed this story and 
bought whatever was brought to him. All of the im- 
mense number named, except about one hundred, of 
small value, were false. The list of his purchases is 
an amazing one, almost passing belief. In addition 
to most of the important names of the 15th, 16th and 
17th centuries — including Ariosto, Boccacio, Boileau, 
Cervantes, Dante, Labruyere, Luther, Montaigne, 
Rabelais, Racine, Raphael, Shakespeare, and Spinoza 
— we find the following: five letters from Abelard; 
five from Alcibiades to Pericles; six from Alexander 
the Great to Aristotle; three from Cleopatra to Caesar, 
to Cato, and to Pompey; ten from Pontius Pilate to 
Tiberius; and one, each, from Archimedes to Hiero, 
from Anacreon, from Arcesilaus to Euripides, from 
Atilla to a Gallic general; from Belisarius; from Julius 
Caesar to Vercingetorix; from Caligula; from Charle- 
magne to Alcuin; from Cicero; from iEschylus to Pytha- 
goras; from Germius Julius to Jesus Christ; from 
Herod to Lazarus; from Judas Iscariot to Mary Mag- 
dalene; from Lazarus to St. Peter; from Mahomet to 
the king of France; from Ovid; from Pliny; from Plu- 
tarch; from Pompey; and from Suetonius. 

Though, for the purposes of his forgeries, Lucas 
had found an ink of the proper quality, and though he 



48 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

sought to give the appearance of old age to his produc- 
tions by exposing them, after their completion, to the 
flame of a lamp, he did not hesitate to write all of them in 
modern French and on paper from the mills of Angou- 
lemel! 

As natural curiosity inspires the desire to know- 
something about the contents of these letters, three or 
four of them will be given in full. 



Letter from Queen Cleopatra 

Cleopatra, Queen, to her very beloved Julius Caesar, 
Emperor. 

My very beloved. Our son Cesarion is well. I 
hope that he will soon be able to support the travel 
from here to Marseilles, where I need to send him to 
study, as much for the good air that one breathes there 
as for the fine things which are taught. I beg you to 
tell me how long you will still remain in that country, 
for I want myself to take our son there and see you on 
this occasion. This is to tell you, my very beloved, 
the pleasure I feel when I am near you, and meanwhile 
I pray the gods to have you in their guard. 

The XI March year of Rome VCCIX. 

Cleopatra. 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 49 



Letter from Lazarus, the Resuscitated, to St. 

Peter 

My dear friend Petrus. You tell me you have 
noticed in the writings of Caesar and in those of Cicero 
that one of the most important parts of the Druids' 
religion consists in sacrificing savage men. It is true 
they take in an erroneous sense this principle, that men 
can only appreciate the life God gave them by offering 
Him the life of a man. They have continued that in- 
human and bloody practice until the time of Cicero. 
This is why he says that they soil and profane their 
temple and their altars by offering there human vic- 
tims, and here Cicero is right in insulting a worship so 
barbarous, saying it is a strange thing that to satisfy 
for what they owe to their religion they must first dis- 
honor it by some murder. They can not be religious 
without being homicides. The infamy of this horrible 
maxim has reflected on all the Gauls, even if it has been 
practised only in some places. But the arms and the 
conquest of the Romans have wiped out this infamy 
and I do not believe that it is practised anywhere now. 
Amen. This X August XLVII. 

Lazarus. 



SO BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Letter from Mary Magdalene to Lazarus, the 
Resuscitated 

My very beloved brother. That which you tell 
us of Petrus, the Apostle of our meek Jesus, gives us 
hope that soon we shall see him here and I dispose my- 
self to receive him well. Our sister Martha also re- 
joices of it. Her health is very tottering and I fear 
her passing away. This is why I recommend her to 
your good prayers. The good girls who have come to 
place themselves under our guidance are admirable for 
us and make us the most amiable caresses. It is 
enough said, my very beloved brother, that our sojourn 
in these countries of the Gaul pleases us much, that we 
have no desire to leave it, also none of our friends sug- 
gest it. Do you not think that those Gauls who were 
thought barbarian nations are not at all so, and judg- 
ing only by what we have learned it must be from 
these that the light of science started. I have a great 
desire to see you and beg our Lord may have you in 
favor. This X June XLVI. 

Magdalene. 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 51 



Letter from Alexander the Great, King of 
Macedonia 

Alexander rex, to his very beloved Aristotle — Greeting. 

My beloved I am not satisfied because you have 
made public certain of your books which you had to 
keep under the seal of secrecy, for it is a profanation of 
their value; and no more render them public without 
my consent. As to what you asked of me, to travel to 
the country of the Gauls in order to learn the sciences 
of the Druids, of whom Pythagoras made so fine a 
eulogy, not only do I permit you but I entreat you to 
go for the good of my people, as you are not ignorant 
in what esteem I hold that nation which I consider as 
the one that carries the light in the world. I salute 
you. This XX of the Kalends of May, year of the CV 
Olympiad. 

Alexander. 



CHAPTER V 

The Same Subject Continued 

SINCE the notable forgeries spoken of in the 
preceding chapter, a number of Frenchmen 
have engaged, in a comparatively small way, in 
the same disreputable business; but their work 
was poor and was soon detected. 

Let us now inquire what contribution Italy, Great 
Britain, Germany, and the United States have made 
to this tribe of counterfeiters. Italy has furnished 
its quota. Their productions — chiefly of a few of the 
most noted early painters, sculptors, and literary men 
— were so good as to pass current with many persons 
who had insufficient experience and who did not seek 
the advice of an expert. Prudent collectors must, 
therefore, be on their guard when considering the pur- 
chase of a rare Italian name from one who is not known 
as a dealer of established reputation for integrity and 
sound judgment of genuineness. 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 53 

In Great Britain, a number of people have been 
diligent, since the middle of the 19th century, in plying 
this contemptible vocation. They have turned their 
attention principally to the names of Burns, Byron, 
Keats, Shelley, Scott and Nelson; to which, at a later 
date, they added Thackeray and Dickens. As a gen- 
eral rule — the most notable exception to which will 
presently be noticed — some particular forger devoted 
his energies to the production of spurious letters of one 
person only. The forger of Thackeray letters brought 
detection upon himself by his wretched attempts to 
make the contents of his productions comparable, in 
wit and literary style, with those of the great novelist. 
The Keats letters, which came from the hand of the 
man now to be named in connection with the Byron 
and Shelley forgeries, were well done; careful attention 
having been paid to all the details which aid in procuring 
deception. 

In the year 1848, a young man who assumed the 
name of George Gordon Byron and claimed, though 
falsely, to be a natural son of Lord Byron, arranged for 
the publication of a volume of the poet's writings, sup- 
plementary to the edition published by Mr. Murray in 
1832. He pretended to have come into possession of 
original material sufficient for this purpose. Notice 
of the intended publication had been given, when it 



54 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

was ascertained that this pretender had been denied 
access to any papers in possession of the family. Thus 
exposed, he went to New York; where he made the same 
effort, but with no greater success. He returned to 
London in the winter of 1850, and shortly thereafter 
the Byron and Shelley forgeries made their appearance 
at an auction sale in the rooms of Messrs. Sotheby & 
Wilkinson. The auctioneers had received them from a 
Pall Mall bookseller named White, who had obtained 
them from the "pseudo Byron." The Shelley forgeries 
were admirably executed and were published by Moxon 
in 1852; but nearly the entire edition was taken up and 
destroyed after the forgery was established by the dis- 
covery that the contents of the letters consisted of 
copies of letters in old periodicals. 

Forty-seven counterfeit Byron letters, which Mr. 
White had bought from their maker at half a guinea 
apiece, were resold to John Murray, the publisher, for 
£123.7.6. They were characterized as "a monument 
of criminal ingenuity"; the greatest pains having been 
taken to give them such post-marks, stamps, seals, etc., 
as should convey the appearance of genuineness. 

Dr. Scott gives such a full and interesting account 
of the wholesale forgeries of letters of Robert Burns 
and Sir Walter Scott perpetrated in Edinburgh, that 
no excuse need be made for reproducing it, in a con- 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 



densed form, in his own words: "For a period of ten 
years, at the close of the nineteenth century, a con- 
stant stream of forged documents issued from Edin- 
burgh, consisting of pretended writings of Marie Stuart, 
Bothwell, James L, Charles I., Cromwell, Charles II., 
Claverhouse, the Young Pretender, John Knox, Rob 
Roy, Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and many other eminent 
persons. The culprit was a nam named Smith who, on 
June 27, 1893, was sentenced to twelve months' im- 
prisonment. The mass of his spurious writing became 
so formidable that every large city in the United King- 
dom has been almost inundated with it. And yet, 
after all, notwithstanding the exaggerated statements 
as to the ability and skill of the forger, nothing could 
be clumsier, more careless or commonplace, than the 
products of his pen. No dealer or auctioneer, no one 
connected with public museums, seems to have hesi- 
tated for a moment in condemning these forgeries. 
It appears that for documents of great historic im- 
portance, for original poems of Burns never yet pub- 
lished, for letters of Thackeray, Scott, and others, 
Smith obtained prices ranging only from Is. to 15s. 
His chief patrons appear to have been Edinburgh 
tradesmen, Mr. James Mackenzie, a chemist and F. S. 
A., Mr. James Stillie, a bookseller, and Mr. Andrew 
Brown, also a bookseller. 



56 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

In May, 1891, what were called "The Rillbank 
Crescent Manuscripts" were sold by auction in Edin- 
burgh. They comprised letters of Burns, Scott, and 
various historical documents — now believed to have 
been manufactured by Smith; but the small prices 
realized proved that the public had but little faith in 
them. The auctioneer refused to warrant them. 
Five letters of Burns — one containing a poem — fetched 
only from £1 to 30s. each. In the "Cumnock Express" 
for August 12, 1892, Mr. Mackenzie published a letter 
of Robert Burns addressed to a certain "John Hill, 
weaver," as to an old friend living at Cumnock, about 
the time of the poet's marriage. This clue sufficed to 
expose the whole forgery. Immediately after the pub- 
lication of this letter, its genuineness was challenged 
by Messrs. James Angus, of Edinburgh, and Colville- 
Scott, of Brookwood, Surrey; who proposed that it 
should be submitted to the inspection of British Mu- 
seum experts. This offer was refused by Mr. Macken- 
zie, who declared he had been a Burns collector for 
twenty-five years; and was fortified with the opinion 
of Mr. Stillie, a veteran Burns student, who testified 
to the undoubted truth of the document, and also of 
others which he proceeded to publish, viz. : a "Song to 
the Rosebud" and "The Poor Man's Prayer," which 
he affirmed, and challenged any one to deny, were the 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 57 

evident product of Burns. Unfortunately, however, 
for Mr. Mackenzie, diligent inquiry could discover no 
trace of any such person as "John Hill, the weaver"; 
and "The Poor Man's Prayer," vaunted as the pure 
offspring of the poet's muse, was traced to the "London 
Magazine" for 1766, when Burns was only seven years 
old. Its real author was Dr. W. H. Roberts, who be- 
came Provost of Eton in 178 1 . Even then Mr. Macken- 
zie would not admit that he was convinced. When 
pressed to state the source from which he had ob- 
tained his extraordinary treasures, he gave a curious 
history of an old cabinet purchased by him, which con- 
tained a secret drawer in which a bundle of papers 
were found. 

Though the bubble had now burst, it was some 
time before the extent of the frauds was fully revealed. 
A lot of manuscripts presented by Mr. Kennedy, a 
banker of New York, to the Lenox Library, turned out 
to be forgeries. Some documents which had been 
presented to the Edinburgh Town Council had like- 
wise to be condemned. A number of Burns and Scott 
letters which Mr. Stillie, already named as a Burns col- 
lector, had sold to Mr. W. W. Cadell in 1899, were in- 
spected by several competent experts, and pronounced 
worthless ; as neither paper, writing, ink, nor style bore 
any resemblance to that employed in genuine letters 
of Burns or Scott. 



58 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The forger — Alexander Hamilton Smith, nick- 
named "Antique" Smith from his surrounding himself 
with curiosities of various kinds — is [circa 1893] a 
little over thirty years of age, has a sallow complexion, 
dark moustache, and small side whiskers. His ex- 
pression is dull, but his manner is described as being 
very plausible and interesting. His education, which 
has been exaggerated, did not prevent the perpetration 
of the grossest mistakes in grammar and historic dates 
and circumstances. His occupation was that of a 
copying clerk in legal offices. 

His modus operandi consisted in purchasing cheap 
folios with fly-leaves, preferring those bound in vellum, 
the fly-leaves and vellum being soaked and prepared 
to give the appearance of age. But so carelessly were 
the forgeries perpetrated that the ink of all the manu- 
scripts, whether centuries old or of quite recent date, 
was almost the same, and whole batches of letters dat- 
ing from 1757 to 1858, and bearing the names of such 
different persons as Edmund Burke, Gen. Abercromby, 
Robert Burns, Grattan, Thackeray, and Sir Walter 
Scott, began and concluded in the same words. All the 
documents were evidently done by the same hand; the 
letters were usually very brief, and were laboured and 
clumsy imitations. No care had been taken to pro- 



SPURIOUS AUTOGILiPHS 59 

cure paper such as the supposed "niters were in the 

it of using. That, for example, used for the Burns 

forgeries was coarse, rough, and bore the appearance 

of having been extracted front becks. The poems were 
written :n t~v nines :f paper — cne modern cartridge, 
the other of a bluish colour, :f a coarse make and glossy, 
like that used for making legal drafts, quite unlike 
any ever u s ed by the poet . The aspect of a ge w a s riven 
by washing or soaking with some yellow substance, 
and the s thing and worn appearance was dene very 
artificially by drawing the paper across a wet. dim* 
surface. All the pretended signatures were evidently 
copied from one model. The subscription, "I remain," 
usually found in these ietters. was very unusual with 
Burns. One of the verses ascribed to Burns " . s 
Pope's. 

The Sir Waiter Scott ietters showed snip a super- 
nth i resemblance to his hand. They were not written 
on letter-paper, as was Stmts method, but on coarse 
paper artificially tinted; and they were folded in a 
manner different from the custom of the time. Four 
letters, dated 1801, 1804, ISIS and 1820, are all writ- 
ten en pieces of exactly the same size, bearing the 
same water-mark, and addresma t: the same person. 
Numbers of them begin 'T have year letter,' 3 and end 
"I remain": iancua.ee which Scott rarelv emoloved. 



60 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

In some of the pretended ancient documents, the 
paper of which had evidently been taken out of old 
books, there were worm-holes, and these were clearly 
more ancient than the writing, since the writer had 
been at pains to avoid the holes. As Burns was an 
Excise-man, paper with the Excise heading was often 
employed, but dated before Burns was thus occupied. 
To put people off* their guard, various endorsements 
were written on the backs of the pretended autographs, 
as if by James Hogg, the "Ettrick Shepherd," Macken- 
zie, author of "The Man of Feeling," and others. The 
strokes of writing, especially when examined by a 
powerful lens, were seen to be shaky and broken. 

Autograph signatures on the fly-leaves and title- 
pages of worthless books were manufactured and sold 
in great numbers. 

As there are so many of these forgeries floating 
about, it should be remembered that Burns always 
wrote on large-sized sheets of paper, possessing a 
peculiar texture and a roughish surface, rather thick, 
and never glossy; that his usual signature was "Robt.," 
not "Robert" Burns; that his handwriting is free, bold 
and flowing; and that his writing at different periods 
varies far less than with most persons." 



CHAPTER VI 

The Same Subject Concluded 

IN Germany, as in other European countries, the 
counterfeiters of autographs have, at various 
times, plied their busy pens with varying degrees 

of success. 

Many years ago a friend of the writer prepared for 
a monthly publication containing matter of interest to 
autograph collectors, a short account of certain ex- 
tensive and, for a time, successful forgeries which were 
the work of a certain Baron von Gerstenbergh, of 
Weimar. Somewhere about the year 1850, he began 
to forge letters of the poet Schiller. He entered upon 
his course of deception with a degree of circumspection 
and assiduity worthy of a better cause. Having made 
the life of Schiller a special study, and living in the very 
city where the poet spent the best years of his life, he 
was enabled to compose letters which bore every in- 



62 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

ternal evidence of being authentic. Long practice had 
made him almost perfect in the imitation of the poet's 
handwriting, and he resorted to every possible device 
to give his forgeries the appearance of antiquity. 
Moreover, in order to make assurance doubly sure, he 
purchased a number of genuine letters, at a high price, 
in order to sell them to those persons who would be 
most likely to detect a forgery; while the spurious 
productions went to those who could easily be imposed 
upon. For a while he prospered beyond his antici- 
pations. The collectors of Europe were anxious to 
obtain the autographic treasures he offered them, 
which he claimed to have obtained from certain lately 
deceased friends and correspondents of the poet. He 
even succeeded in deceiving Schiller's daughter to such 
an extent that she purchased from him certain pre- 
tended unpublished manuscripts of her father for 
nearly 1500 thalers. Emboldened by success, Gersten- 
bergh, who imagined himself a poet, began to compose 
stanzas, to which he did not hesitate to attach the 
name of Schiller. These were so execrable, that it was 
felt at once they could not possibly be genuine. The 
matter was referred to a number of expert autograph 
collectors, who unanimously decided that nearly all the 
papers sold by Gerstenbergh were forgeries, and at 
the same time pointed out infallible means for their 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 63 

detection. On the 27th of February, 1856, the forger 
was arraigned before the criminal court of Weimar, and 
after a long and very interesting trial was condemned 
to an imprisonment of two years and six months, be- 
sides the payment of a heavy fine. 

If other wholesale forgeries have been perpetrated 
in Germany, as may be the case, they have not gained 
the notoriety which would make them known to the 
world at large. 

An American collector, whose judgment of the 
genuineness of an autograph is not only founded on 
long experience, but is largely a matter of intuition, 
purchased, some ten years ago, from an entirely repu- 
table dealer in Berlin, what was believed to be a full 
autograph letter of Count Wallenstein, the central 
figure in the Thirty Years' War. It was signed with 
his full signature; not with the wretched sign-manual 
which is almost undecipherable. When the purchaser 
examined it, something which he could not define, in 
the general appearance of the letter, suggested a doubt, 
almost equivalent to a conviction, that it was not gen- 
uine. Thereupon he returned it to the dealer, with a 
request that it should be submitted to three well known 
experts on autographs of the period of the Thirty 
Years' War, and its authenticity or falsity determined 
by them. Accordingly, this was done; when two of the 



64 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

selected experts pronounced it a counterfeit, while the 
third declared himself unable to speak with positive- 
ness. Of course, the collector did not take the letter. 
There remain, for notice, brief statements of the 
few forgeries that have occurred in the United States. 
In the year 1860, a man calling himself James W. 
Turner, and writing from Washington, D. C, made the 
bold attempt to manufacture letters of those Signers 
of the Declaration of Independence whose autographs 
were either very rare or practically unobtainable. He 
knew that but one full letter of Thomas Lynch, Jr.j 
and nothing better than a letter signed by Button 
Gwinnett, existed. Brotherhead's "Book of the Sign- 
ers" had recently been published, and furnished Turner 
with the materials for his venture. He commenced 
operations by sending to a Philadelphia dealer a letter 
purporting to be written by Lynch and signed by him 
and Christopher Gadsden. In view of the rarity of 
the autograph, he named $25 as the price for it. It 
was shown to three Philadelphia collectors, two of 
whom were willing to purchase it if the price were re- 
duced, while a third unhesitatingly declared it to be a 
counterfeit, and expressed his intention to expose the 
counterfeiter. Accordingly, he wrote to Turner, say- 
ing that he was collecting a set of the Signers, was in 
need of certain names — Lynch being one of them — 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 65 

and that he would like to know whether Mr. Turner 
could supply him with any of them. A quick response 
came, accompanied by two letters of Lynch that were 
substantially duplicates of the one sent to the Phila- 
delphia dealer, and stating that, if informed of the 
wants of the collector, the writer could probably furnish 
many of the names desired. The fraud was thus un- 
covered and exposed in time to prevent more than a 
very few inexperienced and trustful persons from being 
imposed upon. 

At about the same time an Englishman, calling 
himself Robert Spring, and living in Philadelphia, 
where he carried on a small business as a dealer in books, 
autographs, engravings, etc., boldly resorted to the 
manufacture of autographs, as an aid to obtaining 
means for the support of his family. He made no effort 
to conceal this fact from his customers in Philadelphia; 
telling them that he had no thought of offering them 
anything that was not genuine; but that the productions 
of his pen were intended only for persons residing 
abroad, who were not regular collectors. As a matter 
of fact he frequently obtained, by traveling through 
the States and visiting the homes of the descendants 
of Revolutionary characters, considerable numbers of 
valuable letters which he sold at fair prices to the 
few collectors who regularly bought from him. Being 



66 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

a most expert penman, he applied himself, for weeks 
and months, to practice in imitating the handwriting 
of Gen. Washington. When he felt that he had mas- 
tered it he would provide himself with paper of the 
period, sufficiently stained or darkened; and with a 
quill pen, using ink of suitable quality and colour, would 
write — not trace or copy — what purported to be an 
original letter or document, the contents being of his 
own composition, while he had a genuine letter spread 
before his eyes to guide him in his work. In this way 
he wrote dozens of short letters or small military docu- 
ments of Gen. Washington, in which the handwriting, 
easy for Spring to simulate, so closely resembled that 
of the General as to pass current with most people. 
Most of his forgeries were of this one name. He tried 
his hand at a few other names, such as Jefferson, Frank- 
lin, and some rare signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, by the usual mode of tracing from lithographic 
fac-similes; but this work was not well done and was 
seldom offered for sale. 

He was in the habit of sending these spurious 
papers, in three or four different assumed names, to 
members of the English nobility and gentry and to 
Canadians, representing himself, in various persona- 
tions, as a widow in want, a daughter of Gen. "Stone- 
wall" Jackson, in needy circumstances, and in other 



SPURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS 67 

characters which he thought might appeal to kind- 
hearted people of means. When he wrote as a widow, 
the letter would say that she had found the enclosed 
paper among her husband's effects, that she believed it 
to be valuable, and would the gentleman whom she 
addressed have pity on the widow and the fatherless 
and send her whatever he might think the document 
was worth. These appeals were quite successful, and 
many supposed autographs of Gen. Washington thus 
passed into the possession of people who bought them 
from a feeling of sympathy rather than from a desire to 
obtain a valuable paper at a small price. 

Spring was arrested several times for obtaining 
money under false pretences; but always escaped pun- 
ishment by confessing his guilt, declaring that he had 
never sent his productions to any persons in the United 
States, and by pleading that he had resorted to this line 
of conduct solely in order to obtain means for the 
support of his large family. For a number of years 
prior to his death he led a correct life. 

Before concluding the subject considered in this 
chapter and the two preceding ones, attention should 
be called to the fact that lithographic — and, in recent 
years, photographic — copies of letters which appeared 
as illustrations in biographical or other publications 
have been offered for sale, sometimes in good faith, and 



68 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

occasionally have been accepted as genuine original 
letters. Though, in the case of comparatively old 
lithographs, time and discoloration have helped to aid 
the deception, it is hard to understand how any person 
of intelligence and judgment could be so imposed on. 
Any expert would recognize their real character at a 
moment's glance. Among the most familiar instances 
of such fac-similes are Washington's well-known letter 
to Francis Hopkinson [originally published as an illus- 
tration in an old Philadelphia Magazine], Lord Byron's 
to Mr. Galignani [18, Rue Vivienne, Paris], and Lord 
Nelson's to Thomas Lloyd [No. 15, Mary's Buildings, 
St. Martin's Lane, London]. A sure way to determine 
whether a paper is an original or a fac-simile is to touch 
a single letter of a word with a minute drop of diluted 
muriatic acid. In the case of a lithograph or photo- 
graph the spot touched will not be in the least degree 
affected by the acid, whereas the ink in an original 
letter will be wholly or in great part obliterated. 



CHAPTER VII 

On the Progressive Increase in the Market 
Value of Autographs 

TIE last hundred years have witnessed a 
wonderful change in the market values of all 
sorts of things dear to collectors, and especi- 
ally in books and autographs. If we examine 
the catalogues of sales made in the first quarter of the 
19th century, or a few years later, we shall see there 
enumerated a multitude of items that would now read- 
ily bring from twenty to fifty, or more, times as much 
as they then did. The reason for this advance in 
values is not difficult to understand. In those days 
the number of collectors was extremely small in com- 
parison with the present number, and they had far 
less wealth than their successors in after years. The 
multi-millionaire existed, but was rarely met with. 
As, from decade to decade, there were constant acces- 



70 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

sions to the ranks of the collectors, and as the purchas- 
ing power of the pound, the franc, or the dollar de- 
clined, there was a natural advance in values which, 
when once commenced, has continued, sometimes with 
leaps and bounds, to the present day. There are many 
who think it has gone too far, and that a reaction will 
follow. Whether this will happen is purely problem- 
atical. 

Turning our attention to the prices at which auto- 
graphs were sold in the comparative infancy of the 
hobby, we shall find some rather remarkable records 
of sales in France and England, between the years 1822 
and 1837, at figures which, to-day, would seem ab- 
surdly small. 

Thus, in France, an A. L. S. of Barbaroux [French 
Revolutionist] was quoted at 5 francs in 1829; one of 
Bichat [the great anatomist] at 2J^ francs in 1831; 
one of Charles VI. of France at 30 francs in 1837; one 
of the Emperor Charles V. at 21^ francs in 1833; one 
of Camille Desmoulins at 3 francs in 1837; one of King 
Henry III. of France at 20 francs in 1831; one of Marat 
[the noted French Revolutionist] at 7 francs 10 cen- 
times in 1828; one of Marie Antoinette at 81 francs in 
1833; one of Marshal Lannes at IS francs in 1831; one 
of Philip II. of Spain at 10 francs in 1834; one of 
Madame de Pompadour at 17 francs in 1833; one of 



IXCREJSE IX V 'A LUES "1 

Jean Racine at 59 francs in 1S26: one of Robespierre at 
10 francs in 155": one of Madame Roland a: In francs 
in 1837; and one of Voltaire at 4 francs in 1S22. 

The "Archivist"' for December. 1559. rives the 
text of an article on autographs, written in the year 
152" by a woman who was well known in her day as an 
author, and who was also a collector, in which she 
quotes, from a catalogue of a collection for sale in 
London, the price affixed to each lot. Queen Elizabeth 
[the character of the specimen not being stated] is 
worth £2 2s. Charles I. is oi equal value. Francis I. 
and Louis XIV. are estimated at about 4s, each. Car- 
dinal Mazarin is valued at 5s, bd. The dramatists 
Cingreve and the elder Coleman combine with four 
:ther individuals to reach 10s. 6d. Addison is worth 
£2.15. Swift £5. and Burns £:.~.6. Gibbon [the his- 
torian- is valued at 5s.. Dr. Johnson at £1.16. Lawrence 
Sterne at 2 guineas, Samuel Richardson [the novelist] 
a: 21s.. ana Sir Walter Scott at Ss. 

During the two succeeding decades there was a 
slow, but substantial, increase in prices: though they 
continued to be very moderate throughout the L'pcott, 
Tremont, Donnadieu. and Dawson Turner sales. The 
advance in values became more pronounced, though 
far from excessive, at the sales of the Young and Dillon 
collections in 1S69. and it held good during the Fillon 



72 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

sale in 1878 and the Bovet sale in 1887. Still the 
rarer and more valuable items were not beyond the 
purchasing power of a man of moderate means. It 
was not until fifteen years later that prices began their 
leap to figures that seemed almost impossible; and their 
onward march appears to be without check. 

As illustrations of the difference between the low 
prices of 1827 to 1859, and the current values of to-day, 
the following instances may be cited. 

Ludwig von Beethoven [the great composer]. An A. L. 
S. sold at 12 francs in 1842. In 1911, at the Huth 
sale, an A. L. S. 2 pages 4to brought £40. 

Catharine of Arragon, first Queen of Henry the Eighth. 
In 1851, at the Donnadieu sale, an A. L. S. 3 pages 
folio, to the Emperor Charles V., sold at £21. At 
the Huth sale the same letter brought £800. 

Lord Byron. In 1843 an A. L. S. 4to sold at 80 francs. 
In 1916 the catalogue of Bernard Quaritch prices a 
similar specimen at £63. 

Andre Chenier. In 1827 an A. L. S. 4to was priced at 
20 francs 95 centimes. In 1887 a similar specimen 
brought 810 francs at the Bovet sale. 

Queen Elizabeth. At the Donnadieu sale, in 1851, an 
A. L. S. 4 pages folio, to James VI. of Scotland, 



INCREASE IN VALUES 73 

brought £16. At the Huth sale, in 1911, an A. L. S. 
3 pages folio, to King Henry IV., of France, sold for 
£365. 

Galileo Galilei. In 1833 an A. L. S. was priced at 51 
francs. At the Huth sale, in 1911, an A. L. S. V/2 
pages folio sold for £116. 

Christoph Gluck [the composer]. In 1843 an A. L. S. 
sold for 74 francs. In 1905, at the Cohn sale, one 
sold for 4000 marks. 

Charles Lamb. At the Donnadieu sale, in 1851, an 
interesting A. L. S. 3 pages folio brought £1.15. In 
1916 a similar specimen is priced by Quaritch at £55. 

Martin Luther. In 1869, at the Dillon sale, an A. L. S. 
\}/2 pages folio to the Duke of Saxony sold for £18. 
At the Huth sale, in 1911, the same letter produced 
£495. 

John Milton [the great poet]. The collection of auto- 
graph letters formed by John Anderdon, Esq., which 
was sold by Mr. Evans, in London, in 1833, contained 
a long A. L. S. from Milton to his dear friend Carlo 
Dati, dated from London, 1647. It was purchased 
by Mr. Pickering, the publisher, for £14. To-day 
it would readily bring from ten to twenty times that 
price. 

Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1834 an A. L. S. 4to was sold 
for 104 francs. In 1887, at the Bovet sale, a similar 
specimen realized 1000 francs. 



74 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Rembrandt [the great painter]. At the Donnadieu 
sale, in 1851, an A. L. S. 4to sold for £10. At the 
Cohn sale, in 1905, an A. L. S. folio went for 7000 
marks. 

Cardinal Richelieu. In 1841 an A. L. S. was quoted at 
18 francs. At the Fillon sale in 1878, the price was 
1000 francs. 

Peter Paul Rubens [the painter]. In 1842 an A. L. S. 
folio was priced at 60 francs. At the Cohn sale, 
in 1905, one sold for 1500 marks. 

Percy B. Shelley. At the Young sale, in 1869, an A. L. 
S. 4to sold at £7.10. In the Quaritch catalogue for 
1916 a similar specimen is priced at £90. 

In the United States, the advance in values has 
been confined chiefly to names that appear in the 
series of Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
Generals of the Revolutionary War, Presidents, and 
to a comparatively few literary and miscellaneous 
names. In some instances it has been moderate; in 
others, very great. A signature of Thomas Lynch, 
Jr., one of the Signers of the Declaration, cut from 
the title page of a book belonging to him, was worth 
310 in 1860. By 1886 it had advanced to £210 at the 
Cist sale; and later on it commanded a still higher 
figure. At the same sale a folio document signed by 



IXCREJSE IX V A LUES 75 

Button Gwinnett sold for 5185; while a similar speci- 
men brought the enormous price of 54600 at the 
Danforth sale in 1912. 

Among literary names the most pronounced ad- 
vance has been in letters of Edgar A. Poe. In 1860 
good letters of this poet could readily be had for 55 : 
to-day they are worth from 550 to 5100. Xathaniel 
Hawthorne, Washington Irving, James Russell Lowell, 
Longfellow, Bret Harte, Samuel L. Clemens, and a 
few other leading poets and prose-writers, are now in 
constant demand at prices from five to ten times 
greater than those at which they were then abundant. 

Of miscellaneous names, those of General Washing- 
ton, his mother [Mary] and wife [Martha], Capt. 
Xathan Hale [the martyr spy]. Major John Andre, 
John Paul Jones [the naval hero], William Penn, and 
Abraham Lincoln are a few that may be particu- 
larly mentioned. In the middle of the 19th century 
full autograph letters of Gen. Washington, with in- 
teresting contents, were not valued at more than 
515 to 520; and military letters signed [but not written] 
by him were sold at 53 to 55. There was a plentiful 
supply of both kinds. Letters of his mother were, 
and are, of extreme rarity: yet one was bought, in 1858, 
for 550, which would now be worth 51000. Letters 
of Martha Washington appeared only occasionally, 



76 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

but were not estimated at more than $25 — a fifth 
or tenth of their present value. No letter of Nathan 
Hale was heard of, either at public or private sale, 
until 1892; when an A. L. S. 3 pages 4to [not military] 
realized $1125 at an auction sale in Philadelphia. 
For a letter of Major Andre, which today would be 
worth $1000, $100 was considered a full price. A 
good letter of John Paul Jones could be had for $10 — 
a small fraction of its present value. Letters of 
William Penn will readily bring ten times as much as 
they did then; and those of Abraham Lincoln have 
had an enormous advance. 

In the series of Generals of the Revolutionary 
War much attention has, of late years, been paid to 
the character of the contents of the letters. Such as 
embodied valuable historical material, even though 
written by men whose autographs were of common 
occurrence, have been selling at prices largely in ex- 
cess of those that prevailed thirty or forty years ago. 
Of the more noted names that now command a very 
decided increase in price, Israel Putnam, Richard 
Montgomery, Benedict Arnold, Anthony Wayne, Count 
Pulaski, Baron de Kalb, Hugh Mercer and Charles 
Lee, may be specified. Letters of Philippe Du Cou- 
dray and the Chevalier de la Neuville have never 
appeared in sale catalogues, and are so rare that, so 



IXCREASE IX r A LUES 



11 



far as is known, they are not to be found except in 
one private collection. Baron de Woedtke has ap- 
peared once, or perhaps twice, as L. S. 

As the prices obtained for autographs of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence at the 
Cist sale, in 1886, fairly represent their current values 
up to that time, a comparison of them with the prices 
realized at the Danforth sale, in 1912. will indicate 
the extent of the increase in value. To that end 
the following tabulated statement is given; omitting 
a few names poorly represented in the Cist series: 



Name. 

John Adams 

Samuel Adams . . . 
Carter Braxton. . . 
Charles Carroll. . . 
Samuel Chase. . . . 
Abraham Clark . . . 
George Clymer . . . 
William Ellery . . . 
William Floyd .... 
B e r.'- a m i n Fr ankli n 
Elbridge Gerry . . . 
Button G^-ir.r.e:: 

Lyman Hall 

John Hancock 

Beaj. Harrison. . . 
J : seph Hewes .... 
Thomas Heyward. 
W;;-~ K: :rer 
Francis HopkLnson . 
Samuel Huntington 
Thomas JerTerscn . . 



Price a: the Cis: Sale. 
A. L. S. 4:o, 1"?0. 511 
A.L. S.4:o, 1"9. 555 
A. L. S. 5 pp., i~~7. $5 
A.L. S.4:o* 1810. S2.75 
A.L. S.4:o, 1788. 55 



Price at the Dar.:crr_h Sale. 
A. L. S. 3 pp. 4:o, 1779. 356 
A.L.S.4:o, 1772. 531 
A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, 1""?. 556 
A.L.S.4to, 1790. 514 
A.L. S. 2p?. folio, 17"9. 592+ 



A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1776. 520 A. L. S. 4:o, 1776. 5505 

.A.L.S.5pp.4to,l"85. S2f A. L. S. folio, 1778. 550 

.A.L.S.4:o, 1"1. 54 A. L. 5. 2 pp. 4:;. 1782. 585 

.A.L.S.4to,1821. $7 A. L. S. 4:o, 1783. £80 

.A.L. S.2p ? .4:o, 1750. 512 A. L. S. 4:o, 1776. "375 

.A. L. S. 2pp. 4:c, 1782. 5" A. L. 5. 2 pp. fofio, 1776. 5205 

D.S. folio, 1774. 5185 D. S. 2 pp. foli :.:"":, 54600 

A. D. S. 2 pp. folio, 1787. 5o6 A. L. S. large folio, 1783. 5225 



. .A.L. S.4:o, 1778. 515 
. ,A.L.S.4:c, 1788. 59 
. .A.L. S. 2 pp. 4::. 1"". 
. .D. S.4:o, 1786, 510 
. .A.L. S.3pp.4to, 1781. 
. .A.L. S.4:o, 1786 5^ 
. A.L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1794. 
. .A.L. S.4:o, 1826. "4.7 



Francis Lirh::':c: Lee .A. L. S. 5 pp. 4:o, 1" 



L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1 "6. 5175 
A.L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1782. 546 
528 A. L. S. 3pp.4to, 1775. $800 

A.L. S.4:o, 1801. 5195 
520 A. L. 5.2pp. folio, 1~>2. 5450 

A.L. S.4:o, 1778. 5?0 
55 A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1783. 555 

i A.L.S.4ro,l" 9. 550 
512 A.L.S.2pp.4:o, 1776. 5160 



78 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Richard Henry Lee... A. L.S.4to, 1781. $3.50 A.L. S.2pp.4to, 1776. $175 

Francis Lewis A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1778. $16 A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1777. $125 

Philip Livingston L. S. 4to, 1773. $3.25 A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1778. $280 

Thomas Lynch, Jr . . . . Cut signature. $210 Signature on a title page. $580 

Arthur Middleton D. S. \ page 4to, 1782. $15 A. L. S. 4to, 1781. $470 

Lewis Morris A. L. S. folio, 1776. $85 A. L. S. folio, 1788. $100 

Robert Morris A. L. S. 4to, 1799. $1.50 A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, 1776. $60 

Thomas Nelson, Jr.... A.L. S.4to, 1783. $6.50 A. L. S. folio, 1776. $160 

William Paca A. L. S. 4to, 1779. $17 A. L. S. folio, 1786. $45 

Robt. Treat Paine .... A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1778. $22 A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to, 1784. $250 

JohnPenn A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1776. $40 A. L. S.2pp.4to, 1776. $710 

Caesar Rodney A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1775. $8.50 A. L. S. folio, 1776. $150 

George Ross A. L. S. folio, 1773. $9 A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1775. $120 

Benjamin Rush A.L.S.2 pp.4to, 1811. $2 A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, 1783. $95 

Edward Rutledge A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1798. $10 A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1776. $250 

Roger Sherman A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to, 1781. $25 A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1784. $200 

Richard Stockton A. L. S. 4to, 1779. $50 A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, 1763. $235 

Thomas Stone A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1786. $25 A. L. S. 4to, 1778. $250 

Matthew Thornton . . . A. D. S. 4to, 1764. $3 A. L. S. folio, 1775. $310 

William Whipple A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to, 1778. $9 A. L. S.2pp.4to, 1776. $250 

William Williams A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to, 1777. $6 A.L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1776. $165 

James Wilson A. L. S. 4to, 1793. $4§ A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1780. $110 

John Witherspoon . . . . A. L. S. 4to, 1791. $4f A. L. S. folio, 1776. $125 

Oliver Wolcott A. L. S. 4to, 1783. $15 A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1776. $240 

George Wythe A. D. S. folio, 1 789. $26 A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1 776. $680 

It should not be forgotten that the extremely 
high prices obtained at the Danforth sale were chiefly 
due to competition among a few men of great wealth 
who had recently entered the field, and to the desire 
to obtain letters written in the year 1776; a desire 
which had not manifested itself in earlier days. 



CHAPTER VIII 

Concerning Those Who Have Conducted the Com- 
merce in Autographs 

IX any mention of the men who have become well 
known and successful as dealers in autographs, 
the Charavay family, of Paris, is entitled to first 
place. Three generations of the family have, 
since the year 1843, not only been one of the chief me- 
diums through which collectors in Europe and America 
have been supplied, but the successive heads of the 
business have always been considered as most com- 
petent and trustworthy experts, especially in regard 
to the authenticity of French and Italian autographs, 
and as thoroughly honest and reliable business men. 
Jacques Charavay was the first of the family to com- 
mence the occupation of a dealer in autographs. 
Coming to Paris in 1843, with a knowledge of the 
subject obtained from close study, and with an eye 



80 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

that quickly detected want of genuineness, he issued, 
in November, 1845, his first bulletin of autographs 
for sale at the prices marked. Up to the time of his 
death in 1867, he continued to issue these monthly 
bulletins and to prepare the sale catalogues of im- 
portant collections to be disposed of at auction. 

He was succeeded by his son Etienne, who gained 
even a greater reputation than that which attached 
to his father. His knowledge of autographs, their 
rarity, value, and authenticity, was conceded to be 
unrivaled. His judgment of the genuineness of a 
paper was accepted without question. After his 
death, the business passed into the hands of M. Noel 
Charavay, who still conducts it with the intelligence, 
energy, and success that characterized his predeces- 
sors. He, too, is acknowledged to be an expert of 
high rank. 

Other members of the family who followed this 
same pursuit were Gabriel Charavay [1818-1879], 
his son Eugene, and his widow, both of whom are 
now deceased. They issued their priced catalogues 
with great regularity, and had a large clientele. 

In England, the bookseller Waller was one of 
the first well-known dealers in London. He and his 
son John, who succeeded him, issued catalogues for 
nearly fifty years, and up to the death of the son in 



AUTOGRAPH DEALERS 81 

the latter part of the nineteenth century. They were 
greatly respected for intelligent and fair dealing, and 
they always endeavoured to keep their prices at 
moderate figures, so as to encourage young collectors. 
Frederick Barker and Frederick Naylor were two 
of the best known dealers in London in the last quarter 
of the nineteenth century. They were extensive pur- 
chasers at the various auction sales, and large quan- 
tities of good material came into their hands by private 
purchase. It was Mr. Barker's good fortune to ac- 
quire, in this way, the business correspondence of 
William Strahan, the leading English publisher of the 
18th century, containing hundreds of letters of Ben- 
jamin Franklin, Sir William Blackstone, Tobias Smol- 
lett, and many other leading characters and literary 
lights of that day. He had a large circle of customers 
in the United States as well as Great Britain, to whom 
he was in the habit of sending parcels of autographs 
for examination and selection. His prices were mod- 
erate, he was extremely fair and very obliging, and 
his death was greatly regretted by all with whom he 
had dealings. Both he and Mr. Naylor issued, for 
many years and up to the time of their death, regular 
monthly catalogues in which rare and choice letters, 
frequently appeared. 



82 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

After their deaths, Walter V. Daniell, Bernard 
Quaritch, and J. Pearson & Co. became the principal 
London dealers; the latter firm, through the attention 
given by Mr. F. Wheeler, acquiring the leading place 
and issuing occasional catalogues of letters of the first 
importance. At a somewhat later date Maggs Bros, 
entered the field and have been very active in it. 

In Germany the principal dealers have been Otto 
August Schulz and his son, Richard Zeune, Albert 
Cohn, Emil Hirsch, and Leo Liepmannssohn; the latter 
of whom, after many years of deserved success, has 
laid aside the cares of active business. Those who are 
best known to-day are C. G. Boerner, in Leipzig, and 
J. A. Stargardt, Karl Ernst Henrici, and Otto Haas 
[successor to Leo Liepmannssohn] in Berlin. 

In the United States, Charles De F. Burns was 
the first to establish himself in this business. He be- 
gan in a small way, in the city of New York, in the 
year 1864, and was so prosperous that, in August, 
1870, he commenced the issue of a periodical, called 
"The American Antiquarian," part of which was de- 
voted to a catalogue of the autographs for sale by him. 
For many years there was no other dealer in this 
country. He had a large knowledge of autographs, 
was an excellent judge of the genuineness of a paper, 
and was very straightforward in his dealings with his 



AUTOGRAPH DEALERS 83 

customers. He would never accept a commission in 
excess of five per cent for making purchases at auction 
sales; and he would complain, in the most outspoken 
way, if compelled to pay, for a client, an unduly high 
price. He died, much regretted, a few years ago, 
after spending nearly fifty years in a pursuit which 
was most congenial to him. 

William Evarts Benjamin and his brother, Walter 
R., first became known to collectors in the year 1886. 
Shortly thereafter William retired from the business 
which Walter has since conducted with so large a 
measure of success. He has an immense stock of 
autographs, and publishes a monthly paper called 
"The Collector," in which, like Mr. Wegg, he frequent- 
ly "drops into poetry"; for he inherits the poetic in- 
stinct from his father, the well-known Park Benjamin 
of the "Knickerbocker" days. He resides in New 
York City; where P. F. Madigan and his son Thomas 
have lately established themselves as dealers, partic- 
ularly in fine literary autographs, and where Joseph 
Sabin occasionally offers some choice letters to his 
large clientele for engravings. From Syracuse, N. Y., 
John Heise sends out priced lists from which his nu- 
merous customers are supplied. In Boston, Charles E. 
Goodspeed is the leading, if not the only, dealer. 



84 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

In Philadelphia few people are engaged in this 
line of business. The best known are Dr. A. S. W. 
Rosenbach — who, in addition to a magnificent array 
of books, carries a small stock of letters and documents 
of the finest quality — and Dr. William J. Campbell, 
bookseller and publisher. 



CHAPTER IX 

Concerning Some Noted European Collections 
of the Olden and of Recent Times 

THE earliest noted collections of autographs 
which have passed into national archives in 
France and England and have there been 
preserved intact, were formed, not for the 
sake of obtaining specimens of the handwriting of 
eminent men and women, but to ensure the preserva- 
tion of the papers for historical purposes. They were, 
in most part, obtained by gift of the ancient families 
in which they had long been accumulating. 

Some such collections are specially mentioned by 
M. Etienne Charavay in "La Science des Autographies." 
One of them was the immense collection formed in 
France, in the early part of the 17th century, by Philippe 
de Bethune, brother of the great Sully, and his son 
Hippolyte, with the aid of their family archives and 



86 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

those of the houses of Nevers and of Montmorency. 
It contained thousands of original letters of illustri- 
ous personages, classified by reigns, and is now part 
of the precious possessions of the Bibliotheque Na- 
tionals 

After them, Antoine Lomenie de Brienne, Fabri de 
Peiresc, Etienne Baluze, Andre Du Chesne, and some 
other literary men, joined the collection of autographs 
with that of books and other curiosities. But the 
man who, more than any other, devoted his time 
and fortune to the search for autographs was Roger 
de Gaignieres. This gentleman, born in 1644, with 
the aid of his valet [who became his librarian], saved 
great numbers of valuable historical papers from de- 
struction. In 1711 he presented them to Louis XIV., 
and they now form a most important part of the 
treasures of the Bibliotheque Nationale. 

In the same category with the foregoing must be 
named several great collections formed in England, 
in the 17th century and the early part of the 18th, by 
Sir Robert Cotton, Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, 
and Sir Hans Sloane — all of which are numbered among 
the glories of the British Museum. 

The 18th century witnessed a slow, but steady, 
development of the taste for autographs; and the 19th 
century produced hundreds of votaries of the hobby, 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 87 

diligently seeking to obtain letters or documents of 
eminent persons, not only for such historic or personal 
interest as might attach to them but also as specimens 
of handwriting. 

M. Charavay gives, as the names of the notable 
French collectors in the early part of the 19th century, 
those of Guilbert de Pixerecourt, the Marquis de 
Chalabre, the Marquise de Dolomieu, the Comtesse 
de Castellane, Monmerque, the Baron Feuillet de 
Conches, the Comte d'Hauterive, the Baron de Tre- 
mont, Alexandre Martin, Lucas de Montigny, Tarbe, 
Chambry, Michel Chasles [the mathematician], Victor 
Cousin, Guizot, Sainte-Beuve, Dubrunfaut [the chem- 
ist], Benjamin Fillon, and Alfred Sensier. To these 
must be added, somewhat later in that century, the 
names of Mons. La Caille — who had one of the finest 
collections in Europe — Victorien Sardou, Alexandre 
Dumas, Alfred Bovet, and very many others. 

In relation to English collectors, John Gough 
Nichols, in his preface to "Autographs of Royal, 
Noble, Learned, and Remarkable Personages Con- 
spicuous in English History," says: "The preface to 
Thane's 'Autography' tells us that the fac-similes given 
in the work are from the originals which were formerly 
in the collections of those well-known antiquaries, 
Ralph Thoresby, Esq., Peter le Neve, Esq. [whose 



88 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

collection now forms the Harleian volumes 4712 and 
4713], James West, Esq., Rev. Mr. Ives, Mr. Bar- 
telet, Gustavus Brande, Esq., and others. The first 
of these collections will be found fully described in a 
distinct chapter of the 'Museum Thoresbyanum.' 
After mentioning that he had a copy of Camden's 
Britannia in quarto, 'which I bought for the sake of 
the learned author's autograph,' Mr. Thoresby con- 
tinues: 'This reminds me of another branch of the 
curiosities that I began to collect of late years, viz: 
Original letters and other matters of the proper Hand- 
writing of persons of all ranks, eminent in their genera- 
tions'; of which he proceeds to give a catalogue, the 
names only of the writers occupying more than three 
large folio pages. In more recent days, collections of 
autographs have been formed by Sir William Musgrave 
[who bequeathed them to the British Museum], and 
the late James Bindley, the sale of whose library, in 
1820, was concluded with 108 lots of autographs." 

Among the names of Englishmen who were best 
known, in the 19th century, as the possessors of exten- 
sive collections, are those of John L. Anderdon, Esq., 
Dawson Turner, J. B. Williams, of Shrewsbury, Rev. 
Robert Bolton, Robert Cole, Baron Heath, A. Don- 
nadieu, Sir Thomas Phillips, John Dillon, John Young, 
Rev. Dr. Raffles, William Upcott, and Alfred Morrison. 



EUROPE AX COLLECTIONS 89 

Charavay gives the names of a few of the best 

known collectors in other European countries; but. as 
might be expected, the list represents a mere fraction 
of the actual number. 

While it would be manifestly impossible, for want 
of space, to take any further notice of most of these 
collections, curiosity to know something about the 
cnaracter of the material that, at dirrerent peri: as. 
composed them, may be gratified by the detailed 
statements that follow. 



The Monmerque Collection 

One of the earliest French collections disposed of 
at auction., was that of M. Monmerque. The sale 
took place in May, 1837. The catalogue is an Svo 
pamphlet c: 10$ pares, enumerating 1352 items, ar- 
ranged alphabetically, but giving a very scant descrip- 
tion of the autographs. The following names will 
serve to indicate the general character of the collection 
and the auction prices of that day. 
Balzac, Jear. Louis Guez de [Author]. A. L. 5.. 1639. 

28*2 francs. 
Garrick, David [Actor]. A. L. $.. 1767. 51 1 2 francs. 
Henri I J'. [King of France]. A. L. S., 1594. 60 francs. 



90 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

La Fontaine, Jean de. [Fabulist]. A. L. S., 1658. 

320 francs. 
Le Couvreur, Adrienne [Actress]. A. L. S., 1729. 62 

francs. 
Louis XL [King of France]. L. S. 16 francs. 
Mabillon, dom Jean [Pulpit orator]. A. L. S., 1697. 

5 francs. 
Marat, Jean Paul. A. L. S. 8vo. 29J^ francs. 
Marie Antoinette. A. D. S. of 4 lines on the back of a 

letter. 1781. 23 francs. 
Mazarin, Jules, Cardinal. A. L. S., 1658. 23 francs. 
Medicis, Marie de [Queen of France]. A. L. S., 1614. 

19 francs. 
Mignard, Pierre [Painter]. A. L. S. 26 francs. 
Pare, Ambroise [Surgeon]. D. S., 1672. 4J^ francs. 
Perrault, Charles [Author]. A. L. S. 18 francs. 
Piron, Alexis [Poet]. A. L. S., 1755. 20 francs. 
Pompadour, Madame de [Mistress of Louis XV.]. A. 

L. S., 1747. 10 francs. 
Prevost a" Exiles, V Abbe [Author]. A. L. S., 1735. 2iy 2 

francs. 
Rochefoucauld, Francois, Due de la. [Author of "Max- 
ims."] A. L. S., 1658. 47 francs. 
Rohan, Henri, Due de [Chief of the Calvinists]. A. L. 

S., 1617. 2 francs. 




WILLIAM UPCOTT 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 91 

Roland, Madame [French Revolution]. A. L. S. 16 

francs. 
Rousseau, Jean Jacques. A. L. S. and A. D. S., 1774. 

41 francs. 
Saint Pierre, Bernardin de [Author]. A. L. S. 11 

francs. 
Sales, Saint Francois de. A. L. S. 65 francs. 
Tasso, Torquato. A. L. S., 1586. 400 francs. 
Washington, George. A. L. S., 1797. 40 francs. 

The Upcott Collection 

In 1836 Mr. William Upcott, the assistant-libra- 
rian of the London Institution from 1806 to 1834, 
printed, for private distribution, a catalogue of the 
"Original letters, manuscript, and State papers" in his 
collection. In a brief preface, he states that the col- 
lection — the labor of more than twenty-five years — 
comprises thirty-two thousand letters, exclusive of 
manuscripts. "Favourable and extraordinary oppor- 
tunities have encouraged my pursuit. The papers and 
correspondence of Henry Hyde, second Earl of Claren- 
don, J. and S. Dayrolles, Ralph Thoresby of Leeds, 
Emanuel da Costa, and others, were in my possession. 
. . . Added to these, many of the most eminent pub- 
lishers kindly permitted me to select from their preserved 



92 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

correspondence letters written by eminent scholars. . . . 
I am, in consequence, induced to believe, from the 
opinions expressed by many men of acknowledged 
taste, that there does not exist a private collection so 
rich in literary and historical matter." He goes on to 
say that he has transcribed into this catalogue only some 
of the leading names, and expresses the desire to see 
the collection preserved in one of the public museums 
either abroad or at home. 

Ten years later — in 1846 — the collection was sold 
at auction, in London, "under the direction of the 
Court of Chancery," by Messrs. Evans. The cata- 
logue comprised 585 lots, many of which contained 
several hundred different items; and the sale produced 
the sum of £4125.17.6. As might be reasonably sup- 
posed, the larger part of the names were those of per- 
sons of comparatively little note. There were, how- 
ever, a great number of lots made up of names of first 
importance. A few of these may be specified with some 
detail. 

1. Letters and documents of British kings and 
queens. Bound in one volume. 

2. Autographs of the kings of France, from the 
time of Philip V. [1319] to Napoleon. Bound in two 
folio volumes. Sold at £7.10.0. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 93 

3. Original letters and documents signed by the 
principal persons who figured in the French Revolution. 
In two portfolios. 

4. 535 letters and documents of British Naval 
officers from 1652 to 1826; including Blake, Monk, 
Prince Rupert, Anson, Nelson, and many other celeb- 
rities. Sold at £10. 

5. 383 letters of literary characters of the 16th, 
17th, and part of the 18th centuries; the greater por- 
tion of which are addressed to John Evelyn. Includ- 
ing Jos. Addison, Sir Thomas Browne, Robert Boyle, 
William Congreve, John Evelyn, Andrew Marvel, Sir 
Isaac Newton, Samuel Pepys, Alex. Pope, Sir Richard 
Steele, Dean Swift, and Edmund Waller. Sold at 
£80. 

6. 752 letters of literary characters of the 18th 
and 19th centuries. Including James Boswell, Dr. 
Sam. Johnson, R. Porson, and Adam Smith. Sold at 
£33. 

7. 1279 letters of literary men of the 18th and 
19th centuries. Including Sir William Blackstone, 
Lord Byron, Benj. Franklin, Edward Gibbon, Thomas 
Paine, Sir Walter Scott, Percy B. Shelley, R. B. Sheri- 
dan, and Henry Kirke W 7 hite. Sold at £42. 



94 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

8. 121 letters of dramatists. Including W. Con- 
greve, David Garrick, Aaron Hill, David Mallet, Thos. 
Shadwell, R. B. Sheridan, Thos. Southerne, and Sir 
John Vanbrugh. 

9. 470 letters of deceased British poets, from the 
16th century to 1836. Including Sir Philip Sydney, 
A. Cowley, Sir William Davenant, Edmund Waller, 
Thos. Parnell, S. Garth, Matthew Prior, T. D'Urfey, E. 
Settle, Sir R. Blackmore, William Congreve, John Gay, 
Thos. Tickell, Alex. Pope, Richard Savage, Jonathan 
Swift, James Thomson, Wm. Shenstone, Wm. Falconer, 
Oliver Goldsmith, Robert Burns, Henry Kirke White, 
Percy B. Shelley, Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, Sam. 
Taylor Coleridge, and Charles Lamb. 

10. 414 letters of actors and actresses. Includ- 
ing Frances Abington, George Anne Bellamy, Barton 
Booth, Anne Bracegirdle, Colley Cibber, J. Emery, 
David Garrick, Jo. Grimaldi, Thos. Hull, Dorothea 
Jordan, Edmund Kean, John P. Kemble, Thos. King, 
Charles Macklin, John Palmer, W. Parsons, John 
Quick, Mrs. Siddons, Tate Wilkinson, and Henry 
Woodward. 

Among the letters catalogued separately, mention 
should be made of John Selden, George Fox (the 
Quaker), Robert Boyle, Sir Christopher Wren, Wm. 
Blake (painter), T. Gainsborough (painter), William 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 95 

Hogarth, J. Hoppner (painter), Sir Godfrey Kneller, 
Sir Joshua Reynolds, George Romney, Lawrence Sterne, 
Samuel Richardson, Edmund Burke, Matthew Prior, 
Wm. Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Spranger 
Barry (actor), Samuel Foote (actor), George Wash- 
ington, and Martha Washington. 

The Donnadieu Collection. 

The noted collection of autographs belonging to 
Mons. A. Donnadieu was sold at auction, by Messrs. 
Puttick and Simpson, in 1851. The catalogue was 
printed in ordinary 8vo form. For private distri- 
bution, however, there were a few large paper copies, 
which contained a number of lithographic reproduc- 
tions of important letters. The English Royal letters 
in the collection were those purchased at the Upcott 
sale. The total number of items named in the cata- 
logue was only 1038; but many of these were of first 
importance in respect to their rarity, their contents, 
their fine condition, and the persons to whom they were 
addressed. 

The following named are of this class. [The 
prices at which they sold are affixed; and the remarks 
on the various items are those of the compiler of the 
catalogue.] 



96 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Albret y Jeanne d\ Queen of Navarre. Mother of 
Henri IV. A. L. S. 4to, 2 pp., to Charles IX. April 
17, 1572. Very interesting. £6.0.0. 

Alexander VI., Roderic Borgia. Pope. A. L. S. [in 
Latin] as Cardinal Vice-Chancellor, to Lorenzo de 
Medici. Roma, Sept. 8, 1477. £1.12.0. 

Anne of Austria. Queen of France. A. L. S. 4to, to 
the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. Oct. 6, 1638. £1.4.0. 

Aretino, Pietro. Italian poet. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 
Nov. 12, 1539. £4.0.0. 

Aske, Robert. Leader of the great rebellion in the North 
occasioned by the suppression of the monasteries 
in 1536. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. Presumed to be unique. 
£3.19.0. 

Bacon, Francis — Viscount St. Albans. Lord Chancel- 
lor. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, closely written, addressed to 
Sir Tho. Hobby. Aug. 4, 1606. Fine and very 
rare. £15.0.0. 

The Same. L. S. 1 p. 4to, as Chancellor, "Fr. Veru- 
lam, Ca.," Feb. 13, 1619. [From the Upcott collec- 
tion.] £2.4.0. 

Bellievre, Pomponne de. Chancellor of France. A. 
L. S. 3 pp. folio. Londres, Dec. 13, 1586. To M. 
de Villeroy. Very rare and of great historical in- 
terest. £8.0.0. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIGXS 97 

Berulle, Pierre, Cardinal. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to M. de 
Bouthiller. Paris, July 20, 1628. Rare. £2.2.0. 

Beza, Theodore. Reformer. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. Ge- 
neve, Feb. 2, 1573. Very interesting. £3.10.0. 

Biro?:, Charles de Gontaui, Due de. Marshal of France. 
A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, to M. de Yilleroy. Dijon, 
Feb. 20, 1602. Very fine and rare. £1.16.0. 

Boileau-Despreaux. Great French poet. A. L. S. 2 
pp. 4to. Paris, July, 6 1674. £4.9.0. 

Bolkar, Simon. Liberator of South America. A. L. 
S. 4 pp. folio. Trugillo, April 2, 1824. Rare and 
interesting. £3.7.0. 

Borgia, C&sar — Duke of Valentinois. Natural son of 
Pope Alexander VI. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the 
Justiciaries of Florence. Forlini, April 6, 1501. In 
beautiful condition, and believed to be unique. 
£8.8.0. 

Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of. Assassinated. 
A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the French Ambassador. New- 
market, Feb. 12, 1624. Very tine and interesting. 
£6.2.6. 

Burghley, William Cecil, Lord. Minister of Queen 
Elizabeth. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Robert Dudley, 
Earl of Leicester. Jan. 1, 1563. Very fine. £2. 
12.0. 



98 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Catesby, Robert. Chief of the Gunpowder Plot con- 
spirators. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. Believed to be unique. 
£12.0.0. 

Catherine of Arragon. 1st Queen of Henry VIII. A. 
L. S. 3 pp. folio, closely written, to the Emperor 
Charles V. Bucdon, Ebrero 8. Very fine and of 
extreme interest. £21.0.0. 

Parr, Catherine. 6th and last Queen of Henry VIII. 
L. S. 1 p. folio, to her brother, Lord Parr. Otelands, 
July 20, anno 35 [A. D. 1543]. Written eight days 
after her marriage to the king. Fine and extremely 
rare. £13.10.0. 

Chapelain, Jean. Author of La Pucelle. A. L. S. 3 
pp. 4to, to M. Huet. Paris, Feb. 4, 1662. Very 
interesting. £1.11.0. 

Charles VII, King of France. Called "the Victorious." 

D. S. on vellum. Mehun, Jan. 23, 1454. Extremely 

rare. 10s. 
Charles I., King of England. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the 

Queen of Bohemia. St. James, June 28, 1630. 

Very fine. [Upcott.] £4.2.0. 

Charles II., King of England. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to 
Cardinal Mazarin. Oct. 8, 1660. £4. 14.0. 

Christina, Queen of Sweden. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to 
the King. Feb. 23, 1656. £1.13.0. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 99 

Clair on, Hippolite Claire. Celebrated actrees. A. L. 
S. 3 pp. 4to, to the Duke of Aiguillon. Anspach, Feb. 
18, 1774. £1.0.0. 

Clement Fill., Hippolyte Aldobrandini, Pope. A. L. 
S. 1 p. folio, to Henri IV. Rome, Marzo 26, 1596. 
Very fine and excessively rare. £3.14.0. 

Cromwell, Oliver. L. S. 2 pp. folio, in Latin, to Car- 
dinal Mazarin. June 9, 1654. This letter is doubt- 
less the composition of the poet Milton, who was 
Cromwell's Latin secretary. Fine specimen. £5. 
15.0. 

Cromwell, Richard. Lord Protector. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, to Mr. Steward. Fine and very rare. [Up- 
cott.] £7.0.0. 

Diana of France. Natural daughter of Henri II. and 
Diana of Poictiers. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the Grand 
Duke of Tuscany. Paris, May 22, 1575. Fine and 
rare. £1.17.0. 

Edward IV., King of England. Parafe to a warrant 
on vellum. "Geven under oure signet at oure 
Towre of London, the XXII. day of August, the 
third yere of oure Reign [1462]." Excessively rare. 
£5.5.0. 

Edward VI,. King of England. Signature to a license 
for John, Duke of Norfolk, to travel into the Holy 
Land. Greenwich, Junii 19, anno 7 [1553]. With 



100 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

seal. On fine vellum. Excessively rare. [Upcott.] 
£11.5.0. 

Elizabeth, Queen of England, A. L. S. 4 pp. folio, to 
James VI. of Scotland. No date. Very fine. [Up- 
cott.] £16.0.0. 

The Same. L. S. 3 pp. folio, to Philip II. of Spain. 
Westminster, Dec. 16, 1571. Very fine and of his- 
torical interest. £5.0.0. 

Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to 
Sir Isaac Wake, English Ambassador. Aug. 28, 
1631. Very fine. [Upcott.] £5.10.0. 

Elizabeth of France. Queen of Philip IV. of Spain. A. 
L. S. 2 pp. folio, to Louis XIII. [her brother]. 
l'Escurial, Aoiit 20. Fine and rare. £5.7.6. 

Elizabeth of France. Sister of Louis XVI. Guil- 
lotined. A. L. S. \}/2 pp. 8vo, to the Princess Lam- 
balle. Oct. 4, 1791. Very rare. £4.2.0. 

Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of. Favorite of Queen 
Elizabeth. Decapitated. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to 
Queen Elizabeth. Sept. 6, 1600. £17.10.0. 

Estrades, Godefroi, Comte d\ Marshal of France. A. 
L. S. 2 pp. folio, to Marshal Turenne. London, 
Jan. 20, 1662. Fine and interesting. £2.2.0. 

Evelyn, John. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, to Lord Arlington. 
June 11, 1669. Fine. £1.0.0. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 101 

Francis I., King of France. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Pope 
Clement VII. Very fine. £9.0.0. 

Francis II., King of France. D. S. 7 pp. folio. St. 

Germains, Oct. 4, 1560. Fine and historical. £3. 

10.0. 
Frederic II., King of Prussia. Called "the Great." 

A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to, to "mon cher cousin." Magde- 

bourg, Sept. 12, 1742. £5.10.0. 
Frederic, King of Bohemia. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the 

English Ambassador. La Haye, Mai 8, 1731. [Up- 

cott.] £4.12.0. 
Gramont, Philibert, Comte de. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. 

Francfort, Mars 17, 1658. Very fine. £1.6.0. 

Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. 5 A. L. S. 4to, 
dated from 1641 to 1660. All very fine. £1.16.0, 
£2.0.0, £2.2.0, £3.12.0, £6.10.0. 

Henry IV., King of France. 16 very fine A. L. S. 
folio, of various dates. Some written to Charles 
IX. and Catherine de Medicis. Prices ranging from 
£1.8.0. up to £3.3.0. 

Henry V., King of England. A request for a pass- 
port for some German merchants, on which the 
King has written "H. R. a vous mandoies qu'il soit 
fait." Fine, and perhaps unique in private collec- 
tions. [Upcott.] £16.10.0. 



102 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Henry VI., King of England. Sign Manual to a Peti- 
tion of John, Duke of Norfolk, for a passport to go 
out of the kingdom "in pilgrimage to visit certaine 
hooly places." In fine preservation and excessively 
rare. [Upcott.] £13.5.0. 

James I., King of England. Letter subscribed and 
signed, 1 p. folio, to Henri IV. Falkland, Juillet 
16, 1602. Fine. £3.0.0. 

James III., the old Pretender, called the Chevalier de 
St. George. A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, to the Due de Ven- 
dome. St. Germain, Dec. 29, 1710. Very fine and 
rare. £4.16.0. 

Kepler, John. Astronomer. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, in 
Latin, to Dr. Ph. Miller. Jan. |f , 1630. Very rare. 
£3.3.0. 

Lamb, Charles. Poet and essayist. A. L. S. 3 pp. 
folio. Feb. 7. 1831. Very interesting. £1.15.0. 

Le Brun, Charles. Painter. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to 
Bishop Huet. Oct. 28, 1666. Fine and very rare. 
£4.0.0. 

Locke, John. Metaphysician. A. L. S. 2 pp. 8vo. 
Oates, Aug. 11, 1704. Excessively rare. No letter 
of Locke has appeared in a public sale except the 
present. £9. 

Louis XIII., King of France. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, to the 
Queen. Laleu, Oct. 6, 1628. Fine. £3. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 103 

Louis XIV., King of France. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to the 
Queen of England. Versailles, July 25, 1683. Very 
fine. £4. 

Louis XV., King of France. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. Ver- 
sailles, Mai 28, 1756. Very fine. £2. 

Louis XVI., King of France. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, to 
George III., King of England. Paris, Avril 18, 
1792. Very fine. Written eight months before his 
death. £6.6.0. 

Louise de Savoie, mother of Francis I. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, to the Emperor Charles V. Written a few 
days after the battle of Pavia. Extremely fine. A 
pathetic letter relative to her son's captivity. 
£10. 

Luther, Martin. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, in Latin, to C. G. 
Spalatinus. Jan. 7, 1519. Rare and interesting. 
£16. 

Malherbe, Francois de. The father of French poetry. 
A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to M. de Bouillon; relative to the 
death of his son, killed in a duel. [This letter has 
sold at a public sale in Paris for 409 francs.] Fine 
and rare. £1.11.0. 

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 
to her brother, the Archduke Leopold. Aug. 12, 
1791. [Eight days after her arrest at Varennes.] 
Fine and very interesting. £5. 



104 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The Same. A. L. S. 2 pp. 8vo. to the Princesse Lam- 
balle. Jeudi [Sept. 1, 1791]. Very interesting. 
£5.12.6. 

Mary, Queen of England. "Bloody Mary." D. S. iy 2 
pp. folio. June, 1SS6. Fine and very rare. [Up- 
cott.] £10.10.0. 

Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darn- 
ley. A joint letter signed by both, "Marie R." and 
"Henry R.", to Matthew, Earl of Lennox. Dec, 
1565. The signature of Darnley is excessively rare, 
and a paper on which both signatures occur is 
probably unique. [Upcott.] £10. 

Mayenne, Charles de Lorraine, Due de. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, to the Due de Guise. Dec. 17, 1590. Fine 
and rare. £1. 

Medicis, Catherine de, Queen of Henri II. of France. 
A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of 
Navarre. 1572. Of the greatest historical interest. 
£9. 

Medicis, Marie de. Queen of France. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, to her son. Juin 28, 1638. Fine and rare. 
£2.2.0. 

Moliere, J. B. Poquelin. The great French dramatist. 
A certificate, delivered by the Notaries upon the at- 
testation of Jacques Martin and Moliere, and signed 
by them. 1 p. folio, Jan. 25, 1664. [We are not 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 105 

aware of any specimen having occurred for public 
sale in this country except the present, and but one 
in Paris.] From the Hodges collection. £10.5.0. 

Monmouth, James, Duke of. Natural son of Charles 
II. Beheaded. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Lord Roches- 
ter. Ringwood, July, 9 1685. Very rare and of 
the highest interest. [Upcott.] £21.10.0. 

Montgomery, Gabriel, Comte de. Beheaded 1574. A. 
L. S. 2 pp. folio, to Viscount Turenne. Very rare. 
£1.4.0. 

Montmorency, Henri II., Due de. Marshal of France. 
Beheaded. A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to. La Grange, May 
19, 1627. Fine and rare. 14s. 

Napoleon Bonaparte. Emperor of France. A full 
authority given to Caulincourt, Duke of Vicenza, 
to negotiate and sign a definitive treaty of peace 
with the Allied Powers, and thus to arrest the ef- 
fusion of human blood and the attendant calam- 
ities of war. A document of the highest historical 
importance, dated Paris, Jan. 4, 1814, and signed 
by Napoleon and the Due de Bassano. £10.15.0. 

Nassau, Maurice of. Celebrated general. A. L. S. 
2 x /2 pp. folio, to the Due de Bouillon. La Haye, 
Juin 23, 1595. Fine, rare, and very interesting. 
£2.2.0. 



106 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Nelson, Horatio, Lord. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, to Lieut.- 
Gen. Fox. Jan. 1, 1800. Interesting. £1.9.0. 

Newton, Sir Isaac. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to Lord Towns- 
hend. Aug. 25, 1724. Interesting. £7. 

Nostradamus, Casar. [1555-1629.] A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 
Fine and excessively rare. £2.9.0. 

Philip II., King of Spain. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the 
King of France [Charles IX]. Written shortly after 
the massacre of St. Bartholomew. Very fine. £5. 

Piron, Alexis. Poet and dramatist. A. L. S. 4 pp. 
4to. Mars 8, 1754. Fine and extremely rare. £2.2.0. 

Pope, Alexander. Poet. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to his 
publisher. Aug. 16, 1732. Interesting. £1.12.0. 

Poussin, Nicholas. Great painter. A number of fine 
A. L. S. 4to or folio, at prices varying from £2.4.0 
to £3.8.0. 

Raleigh, Sir Walter. A Petition to the Lord High 
Chancellor, requesting that a Commission might 
be issued to correct some abuses which had occurred 
relative to the authority given by Queen Elizabeth 
to Raleigh to grant licenses for the sale of wines 
by retail. Signed by Sir Walter Raleigh, and by 
Lord Burghley and Sir John Popham. £5.7.0. 

Raphael Sanzio. The greatest of painters. A study 
of two horses' heads, with men's arms, sketched in 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 107 

pen and ink, and having several lines of writing in 
his autograph. Extremely rare. £11.11.0. 

Rembrandt. Celebrated Dutch painter. A. L. S. 1 p. 
4to, to Const. Huygens. Excessively rare. £10. 

Richard III., King of England. Warrant dated April 
15, Anno 1 [1484], for the payment of money. Signed 
in full "Ricardus Rex." Fine. [Upcott.] £25.10.0. 

Rousseau, Jean Jacques. Several A. L. S. 4to, 2 or 3 
pages, at prices varying from £1.19.0 to £5.5.0. 

Rubens, Peter Paul. Great painter. 3 A. L. S. folio, 
2 or 3 pages, at prices varying from £4.18.0 to £5.7.6. 

Rupert, Prince. The great general. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 
Bristol, July 5, 1645. Fine and rare. [Upcott.] 
£8.10.0. 

Sales, Saint Francis de. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, "a son al- 
tesse serenissime." Sept. 17, 1611. Fine and ex- 
cessively rare. £4.11.0. 

Salisbury, Robert Cecil, Earl of. A. L. S. 4 pp. folio. 
Farnham, Sept. 21, 1601. Fine and very interesting. 
£6.10.0. 

Saumaise, Claude de. Critic. A. L. S. 2}^ pp. folio, 
to M. du Puy. Leyden, Feb. 28, 1638. Fine. [Up- 
cott.] £1.1.0. 

Scaliger, Joseph Justus. Philologist. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, to M. de St. Marthe. August 10, 1606. Fine. 
£1.13.0. 



108 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Scott, Sir Walter. Poet and novelist. A. L. S. 4to, 
2pp. May 16, 1800, and A. L. S. 4to, 3 pp., March, 
1802, to Cadell and Davies. Fine and interesting. 
Each, £1.2.0. 

Sforza, Ludovicus Marie. Surnamed "the Moor." A. 
L. S. to Pandolphino. Milan, 1496. Excessively 
rare. 10s. 6d. 

Somerset, Edward, Duke of. Commonly styled "the 
Protector." Beheaded in 1552. L. S. 1 p. folio, 
to the Justices of the Peace. July, 1549. Fine and 
rare. 16s. 

Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of. Beheaded in 
1641. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. Dublin, Aug. 21, 1634. 
[Upcott.] £7.7.6. 

Suffolk, Edmund de la Pole, Duke of. Nephew of Ed- 
ward IV., and heir apparent to the throne. Beheaded 
in 1513. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, closely written, to 
Thomas Killengworth. About the year 1506. Very 
rare, if not unique. £7. 

Tasso, Bernardo. Poet. Father of the great Tasso. 

Letter subscribed and signed, 1 p. folio, to Speroni. 

Vinegia, Agosto 19, 1559. Fine. [From the Hodges 

Collection.] £1.6.0. 
Vane, Sir Henry. Parliamentarian. Beheaded in 1662. 

A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to William II., Prince of Orange. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 109 

Whitehall, Feb. 26, 1629. Fine and interesting. 

£2.4.0. 
Veronese, Paolo Cagliari, called. Noted painter. A. 

L. S. 1 p. folio, to his patron Marc Antonio Gandini. 

Marzo 31, 1578. Good specimen. Very rare. £2. 
The Same. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to his patron Gandini. 

Very fine. £1.10.0. 
Villeroy, Nicolas de Neufville de. Minister of State to 

four French kings. A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, to King 

Henri IV. Paris, Nov. 10, 1598. Fine, interesting, 

and very rare. £1.6.0. 
Vincent de Paul, Saint. A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, to M. Du 

Festel. Breste, Nov. 28, 1642. In perfect condi- 
tion and excessively rare. £5. 
Wren, Sir Christopher. Architect. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 

July 28, 1675. Fine, interesting, and excessively 

rare. [Upcott.] £15. 
York, Anne Hyde, Duchess of. Wife of James, Duke of 

York; afterwards King James II. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 

to her sister Lady Henrietta Hyde. York, Aug. 14, 

[1666]. Very fine and extremely rare. [Upcott.] 

£5.5.0. 

Collection of Baron de Tremont 

Louis Philippe Joseph, Baron de Tremont, was a 
French prevet and an enthusiastic collector. He was 



110 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

born in the year 1779, and died in 1852. His collec- 
tion was sold at auction in Paris; the first portion of it 
in December, 1852, and the two succeeding portions in 
February and April, 1853. The catalogue was pre- 
pared with great care by M. Laverdet. It consists of 
three parts numbering, respectively, 222, 151, and 196 
8vo pages. The first part comprised 1482 items; the 
second, 1200 items; and the third, 1337 items. A 
majority of the items consisted of a single letter or docu- 
ment; but frequently many names were grouped in a 
lot. 

While the collection was largely composed of names 
of ordinary occurrence and small importance, it was 
notable for its extensive series of persons who were 
prominent in the French Revolution, and of noted 
French actors and actresses; and especially for the 
number and character of the letters of first importance 
— and, frequently, of great rarity — that appear in the 
first part of the catalogue. The following named are 
certainly worthy of mention. 

Alencon, Rene de Valois, Due d\ Died 1492. Con- 
fined by Louis XI. in an iron cage. Quittance signed, 
on parchment. Tours, Juin 24, 1490. 
Alexander VI., Roderic Borgia, Pope. L. S. on parch- 
ment. To the King of France. Rome, Oct. 8, 1499. 



EUROPE AX COLLECTIONS 111 

Jkk: d; Brr.azr.z. Queen ;f France. L. S. 1 p. 4ro. 
To my cousin the Prince de Ren-. Amboise, May 
S, 1498. 

Bc:szrr.zi-rr fi Marshal. 1579-1649. A. L. 5. 2 pp. 
folio. To Marshal oe Breze. Sep:. 1". 1645. 

Bayard. Pierre— Stirrer du Tfr-aii. The Chevalier 
Sans zsur -;: ::..--;: r { zrz:'r.:. A. L. S. 2 pp. large folio, 
tc King Louis XII. Du camp de Payava. le ll e ;our 
d'Octobre. When certificate of genuineness from M. 
Teulet, archivisce paleigrapne :: :he National Ar- 
chives. 

Beze, T''\ : :zazr { d:. Illustrious reformer. A. L. S. 5 -p-p. 
folio, tc Viccmte de Turenne. Geneve. 9 Mars 1591. 

Biro?:. Arr>\d'>:d d: QzKiau:. Du: df. Marshal cf France. 
A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to the King. May 24. 1573. 

Boiltau-Desprtaux, Xiccias. Poet. 1636-1711. A. 
L. S. 11 o pp. 4to. Paris. Samedi. 2 Turn. 

BcKapar::. 11::.:. ■■:■:. Mother of Xapoleom 1750— 
1556. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. To her son Lucien. Paris. 
2" Xivose. 

Borgia, Czsar. Xatural son of Pope Alexander VI. 
Died in 150". L. S. 1 p. 4to. with autograph sub- 
scription of two lines. To Pietro de Medici. Rome. 
Dec. S. 1472. 



112 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Boucicaut, Jean Le Maigre, Sire de. Marshal of 

France. 1364-1421. Quittance signed, on parch- 
ment. Nov. 29, 1395. 
Bourbon, Matthieu de. Called "le grand batard." 

Noted warrior. Quittance signed, on parchment. 

July 20, 1499. 
Bourbon, Charles II., Cardinal de. Proclaimed, by the 

League, King of France, under the title of Charles X. 

D. S. on parchment, 1 p. double folio. Angers, Feb. 

4, 1570. 
Camden, William. Historian. A. L. S. 1 p. folio (in 

Latin). To Jacques Auguste de Thou. London, 

July, 1596. 
Caracchi, Ludovico. Eminent painter. A. L. S. 1 p. 

folio. Bologna, 15 Feb. 1617. 
Carignan, Thomas Francois de Savoie, Prince de. Great 

warrior. 1596-1656. A. L. S. 1 p. small folio. 

To S. A. R. Madame. 
Catherine de Medicis, Queen of France. 1519-1589. 

A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. To her daughter, la Royne 

Catolique. 
Chapelain, Jean. Poet. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to. To M. 

Colbert. Paris, July 14, 1661. 
Charles V., King of France. 1337-1380. A. L. S. 

Yz p. 4to. To Maitre Giles Malet, his valet de 

chambre. Au boyz de Vicenez le XXP jour de 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 113 

May. With M. Teulet's certificate of authenticity. 

Very fine. 
Charles V., Emperor of Germany. 1500-1558. A. L. 

S. [in French] 3 pp. folio. To Philibert de Nassau, 

Prince of Orange. 
Charles VI., King of France. 1368-1422. D. S. with 

one line autograph, oblong 4to. Abbeville, le 25 

jour de May. 
Charles VII., King of France. 1407-1461. L. S. on 

parchment. To Charles, Marquis de Baude. Nancy, 

in Lorraine, le 4 e jour d'Avril, 1445. 
Charles VIII., King of France. 1470-1498. A. L. S. 

1 p. oblong folio. To Mon chier et bien ame cousyn, 

le Conte de Guyse. Montelzles-Tours, ce setiesme 

jour d'Octtobre. Very fine. 

Charles IX., King of France. 1550-1574. A. L. S. 

I p. folio. To M. de la Mole. 

Charles, Due de Bourgogne — surnamed le Temeraire. 
1433-1477. A. L. S. Y 2 p. folio. To M. de Grancey. 

II aout. 

Charles II., Due de Lorraine. Surnamed "the Great." 

A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to the King. 1602. 
Christian III., King of Denmark. L. S. 1 p. folio. 

Sept. 4, 1547. To Henri II., king of France. 



114 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Claude of France, wife of Francis I. 1499-1524. L. 

S. 1 p. 4to. Blois, August 27. To the Surintendant 

of Finances, Baron de Samblancay. 
Clement VII., Pope. A. L. ,S. 1 p. folio, to Paolo de 

Victorys. Florence, May 8, 1522. 
Clement IX., Pope. 1599-1669. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 

Rome, March 30, 1664. 
Coligny, Gas par d de Chastillon, Sire de. 1517-1572. 

The illustrious leader of the Huguenots. A. L. S. 1 

p. 4to. To M. de Plancy. Blois, Oct. 2. 
Colonna, Vittoria — Marquise de Pescara. Celebrated 

Italian lady. 1490-1541. A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, to 

Cardinal de Trivulce. Lucques, Oct. 23, 1538. 

Superb letter. 
Coy pel, Noel. Great painter. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 

Paris, Aug. 30, 1696. 
UAlbret, Jeanne. Queen of Navarre. A. L. S. 1 p. 

folio. To Monsieur, frere du Roi. La Rochelle, 

Feb. 4. 
Descartes, Rene. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Pere Mersenne. 

Amsterdam, Aug. 14, 1634. 
Diane de Poitiers, Duchesse de Valentinois. Mistress 

of King Henri II. 1499-1566. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, 

to M. de Beaumont. Chalons, Juin 16. 
Dunois, Jean, Comte de Longueville et de. Called "the 

Bastard of Orleans." Companion in arms of Jeanne 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 115 

d'Arc. 1402-1468. A. L. S. y 2 p. oblong folio. 

To Madame de Dampierre. Saint Benoit, Sept. 20. 
Elizabeth, Queen of England. 1533-1602. A. L. S. 

23^ pp. folio [in French], to King Henri III. 
Elzevier, Abraham. Printer. Died in 1652. A. L. S. 

folio, to Pere Mersenne. March 8, 1638. 
Estrees, Gabrielle d\ The celebrated mistress of Henri 

IV. A. L. S. folio, signed with her paraphe. To 

Henri IV. 
Estrees, Jeanne d\ Mistress of Henri IV. A. L. S. 1 

p. folio. To Madame de Lannoye. 
Francis I., King of France. A. L. S. 4to. To the 

Emperor Charles V. 
Francis II., King of France. A. L. S. 1 p. large folio. 

To the Constable Montmorency. 
Frederic II. (the Great), King of Prussia. A. L. S. 2 

pp. 4to, in verse and prose. To Voltaire. Potsdam, 

May 24, 1750. 
Galilei, Galileo. The great natural philosopher. 1564- 

1642. A. L. S. folio. Padua, Jan. 5, 1601. 
Galland, Antoine. Translator of the "Arabian Nights." 

A. L. S. 4 pp. 4to. Aug. 22, 1706. To the Bishop of 

Avanches. 
Garcias Laso, or Garcilasso de la Vega. Eminent Span- 
ish poet. 1505-1536. L. S., with autograph sub- 



116 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

scription of two lines. To Prince de Florence. 

March 15, 1567. 
Guicciardini, Francisco. Noted historian. A. L. S. 

1 p. folio. Milano, May 27, 1518. 
Guise, Francois de Lorraine, Due de. Assassinated by 

Poltrot. 1519-1563. A. L. S. folio. To M. de 

Tavannes. 
Guise, Henri de Lorraine, Due de. Called "Balafre." 

A. L. S. 1 p. large folio. To M. de Laussac. Oct. 1, 

1581. 
Guise, Henri II. de Lorraine, Due de. 1614-1664. A. 

L. S. 3 pp. 4to. To his Eminence. Jan. 28, 1655. 
Henri II., King of France. A. L. S. folio. To Cardinal 

de Lorraine. December 21. 
Henry VIII., King of England. A. L. S. 1 p. folio (in 

French). To Queen Catherine de Medicis. 
Ignatius Loyola, Saint. 1491-1566. A. L. S. large 

folio, [in Latin]. To Nicolas de Furno. Rome, 

10th day. 
James I., King of England. A. L. S. 1 p. large folio. 

To King Henri IV. Dec. 28, 1605. 
Julius II., Pope. A. L. S. 1 p. oblong 4to. To Lorenzo 

de Medicis. July 10, 1473. 
Lafontaine, Jean de. Fabulist. A. L. S. in prose and 

verse, 1 p. small 8vo. To Mons. A. Chauny. April 

29. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 117 

Lamballe, Princesse de. 1749-1792. A. L. S. 1 p. 

large folio. To the King. Paris, Jan. 2, 1792. 
La Tremoille, Louis II., Sire de. Vicomte de Thouars. 

Surnamed "le Chevalier sans reproche." 1460- 

1525. L. S. \}/2 pp. large folio. To Vicomte de 

Tavanne. 
La Valliere, Louise Frangoise de la Baume Le Blanc, 

Duchesse de. Mistress of Louis XIV. 1644-1710. 

A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, to M. de Verneuil. March 15. 
Leicester, Robert Dudley, Earl of. Favorite of Queen 

Elizabeth. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Lord Cecil. July 

7, 1566. 
Lenclos, Anne de. Commonly called Ninon de Len- 

clos. Famous French courtesan. 1615-1706. A. 

L. S. 1 p. small 4to, to M. de Bourepaux. 
Leo X., Pope. A. L. S. 1 p. oblong 4to. To his brother, 

Pietro de Medicis. Nov. 5, 1492. 
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. Celebrated German writer. 

1729-1781. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. 
Lorraine, Louis de Guise, Cardinal de. Celebrated 

leaguer. 1527-1588. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to the 

King. Avignon, May 26, 1572. 
Louis VII., King of France. 1120-1180. D. S. [in 

Latin] on parchment, subscribed with his monogram, 

1 p. large folio. 1173. [From the collection of M. 

Monmerque.] 



118 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Louis IX., King of France. 1215-1273. D. S. 4to, 
on parchment [in Latin], signed with his monogram. 
Aug. 1244. [From the Monmerque collection.] 

Louis XII., King of France. A. L. S. 2 pp. large folio, 
to the Emperor Maximilien. Blois, Mai 10. 

Louis XVI., King of France. A. L. S. V/i pp. 4to, to 
the National Assembly. Dec. 31, 1791. 

Luynes, Charles d* Albert, Due de. Constable of France. 
A. L. S. 1 p. large folio, to Comte de Tilliers. Abbe- 
ville, Dec. 22, 1620. 

Machiavelli, Niccolo. Famous Italian statesman and 
writer. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Fr. Nigro. Aug. 31, 
1523. 

Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre. Sister of 
Francis I. Named "la Marguerite des Marguer- 
ites." 1492-1549. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. To Madame 
de Clermont. 

Marguerite de France. Sister of Charles IX., and first 
wife of Henri IV. 1552-1615. A. L. S. 3 pp. folio. 
To the King, my husband. Chateau d'Usson, April, 
1599. 

Marie Stuart, Queen of Scots. 1542-1587. A. L. S. 
1 p. large folio. Written from her prison to M. de la 
Mothe de Vaingfield. September 22. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 119 

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. Guillotined. A. 
L. S. 1 full p. 4to, to the Princesse de Lamballe. 
Nov. 17. 

Marillac, Louis de, Comte de Beaumont. Marshal of 
France. 1572-1632. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Car- 
dinal Richelieu. Paris, March 12, 1629. 

Mary I., Queen of England. "Bloody Mary." L. S. 
1 p. oblong folio [in Latin]; also signed by her hus- 
band, King Philip II. of Spain. To Cosmo de Medi- 
cis. Westminster, Feb. 19, 1554. 

Mezeray, Francois Eudes. Historian. 1610-1683. A. 
L. S. 3 pp. 4to, to the Abbe Huet. Ce Mardi 4 
Decembre. 

Michel-Angelo Buonarotti. The grand painter. 1474- 
1564. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Cardinal Trivulce. 
Aug. 13. 

Mignard, Pierre. Painter. 1610-1695. A. L. S. 1 
p. 4to, to M. Garique. Versailles, July 15. 

Moliere, Jean Baptiste Pocquelin. Famous dramatist. 
1620-1673. D. S. on parchment, on the back of a 
receipt for money. Also signed by the Minister Le 
Tellier. June 30, 1660. 

Montcalm de Saint Veran, Louis Joseph, Marquis de. 
Killed at Quebec in 1759. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to l'Abbe 
Donadieu. Au camp le l er Septembre, en Flandre, 
1755. 



120 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Montmorency, Anne de. Constable and Marshal of 
France. 1493-1567. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to M. de 
Villandry. 

Norfolk, Thomas Howard, Duke of. English Admiral 
and General. 1473-1554. Acquiesced in the ex- 
ecution of his niece, Anne Boleyn. A. L. S. 1 p. 
folio, 1527. 

Pare, Ambroise. Father of French surgery. 1518- 
1590. D. S. with his paraffe, on parchment. Dec. 
1581. 

Philippe Auguste [Philippe II.], King of France. 1165- 
1223. D. S. with his monogram [in Latin] on parch- 
ment. [From the Monmerque collection.] 

Pius II., JEneas Piccolomini, Pope. 1404-1464. A. 
L. S. 1 p. 4to [in Latin]. Jan. 15, 1450. 

Poliziano, Angelo. Noted poet and historian. 1454- 
1494. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, to Lorenzo de Medici. Pis- 
tole, Sept. 12, 1478. 

Portsmouth, Louise de Querouille, Duchess of. Noted 
as the mistress of King Charles II. A. L. S. 2 pp. 
4to, to M. Desmarets. Paris, Aug. 15, 1713. 

Pulci, Luigi. Poet. 1432-1487. A. L. S. 1 p. 4to, 
to Lorenzo de Medici. Sept. 8, 1474. 

Rabelais, Francois. The great French satirical writer. 
1485-1553. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, to Cardinal du 
Bellay. Plaisance, le 13 Avril. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 121 

Rantzau, Joseph, Comte de. Marshal of France. Died 
in 1650. Celebrated in the Thirty Years' War. Suf- 
fered fearful wounds. A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to, to Cardinal 
Mazarin. Aug. 8, 1648. 

Raphael Sanzio. The superb painter. 1483-1520. A 
study of two heads of horses, with the arms of men, 
sketched in ink; with 5 lines in his autograph. Dated 
1510. [From the Donnadieu collection.] 

Rene UAnjou. "The good King Rene." 1408—1480. 
A. L. S. 1 p. 4to. to Maitre Jehannot. Le flament 
15 Octobre. 

Rubens, Peter Paul. Painter. A. L. S. [in Italian] 2 
pp. folio, to M. DuPuy. Anvers, May 13, 1627. 

Sales, Saint Francis de. 1567-1622. A. L. S. 2 pp. 
folio, to Son Altesse. April 20, 1617. 

Scala, Bartolomeo. Celebrated Italian poet and his- 
torian. 1424-1497. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. Florence, 
April 24, 1470. 

Sevigne, Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise, de. 1627- 
1696. A. L. S. 2 pp. 4to [circa 1658]. Pour Mons. 
Menage. 

Sforza, Galeas Maria Visconti. Duke of Milan. 1444- 
1476. Cruel and sanguinary Prince. A. L. S. 1 p. 
oblong 4to, to Lorenzo de Medici. Aug. 12. 



122 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Sorel 9 Agnes. Mistress of Charles VII. 1410-1450. 

A. L. S. Y2 p. oblong folio. To le Sire de la Varenne. 

Le 18 jour d'Aout. 
Straff ordy Thomas Wentzvorth, Earl of. 1593-1641. A. 

L. S. 1 p. folio, to his wife. York, Sept. 20, 1632. 
Talboty John — Earl of Shrewsbury. Illustrious warrior. 

1373-1453. A. L. S. 1 p. oblong folio. To Chas- 

telain de la Motte Seurin. Ce 23 jour de May. 
Trompy Martin Harpertzoon. Noted Dutch Admiral. 

1597-1653. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. May 24, 1644. 
Urbain Fill., Pope. 1568-1644. A. L. S. 1 p. folio. 

Rome, Feb. 14, 1592. 
Veronese, Paolo Cagliari, called. Eminent painter. 

1530-1588. A. L. S. 1 p. folio, to Sig. Marinetto. 

Venice, Oct. 27, 1578. 
Finely Leonardo da. Grand painter. 1452-1519. A 

paper, 2pp. 4to, containing drawings by him and 

twelve lines in his handwriting. 

The Dawson Turner Collection. 

One of the most noted collections of the 19th cen- 
tury was that of Dawson Turner, F. R. S., F. S. A., etc., 
formerly of Yarmouth, England, which contained up- 
wards of forty thousand autograph letters or docu- 
ments of persons of all nationalities and in all the ranks 




DAWSON TURNER 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 123 

and walks of life, many of them being of first impor- 
tance. After his death the collection was sold, by 
auction, in London, in June, 1859. The sale catalogue 
is an 8vo volume of 308 pages, with many plates of 
fac-similes. Most of the important letters were in- 
cluded in lots of large size; some of them being bound 
volumes whose contents comprised items numbering, 
respectively, 565, 1300, 1500, 2300, 9000 and 9100 
letters and documents. 

Among such a wealth of material it is not possible 
to name more than a few of the most prominent names 
to be found in the lists of the six largest series. They 
specify A. L. S. folio or 4to of Dr. Arne [composer], 
Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland [mistress of Charles 
II.], Robert Boyle [philosopher], Duke of Buckingham 
[assassinated by Felton], Sir Edward Coke, Capt. 
James Cook, Rene Descartes, Robert Dudley, Earl of 
Leicester, George Fox [the Quaker], Thos. Gainsbor- 
ough [painter], Sir Christopher Hatton, King James 
I., C. Jordaens [painter], Duchess de la Valliere [mis- 
tress of Louis XIV.], Lorenzo de Medici, Sir Isaac 
Newton, Blaise Pascal, Richard Porson, Salvator Rosa 
[painter], Prince Rupert, Paul Veronese [painter], 
Simon Vouet [painter], Sir Francis Walsingham, and 
Gen. James Wolfe; and of the following named English 
poets, essayists, dramatists, historians, and miscel- 



124 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

laneous prose-writers, viz: Joseph Addison, Richard 
Baxter, Robert Blair, Sir Thomas Browne, Robert 
Burns, Lord Byron, Mrs. Centlivre, Charles Churchill, 
Earl of Clarendon [historian of the Rebellion], William 
Congreve, Daniel De Foe, John Dryden, Henry Field- 
ing, John Gay Edward Gibbon, Dr. Sam. Johnson, Ben. 
Jonson [autograph inscription signed, 1 page 4to], John 
Keats, Sir W. Killegrew, Andrew Marvell, Matthew 
Prior, Alex. Pope, Samuel Richardson, Nicholas Rowe, 
John Selden, Percy B. Shelley, Tobias Smollett, Thomas 
Southerne, Sir Richard Steele, Lawrence Sterne, Dean 
Swift, James Thomson, Edmund Waller, Henry Kirke 
White, and William Wycherly. 

In many cases there were several — three or more — 
letters of the same person. 

The total sum realized for this immense collection, 
including a considerable number of fine illuminated 
manuscripts and valuable documents, was [what would 
now be regarded as the paltry sum of] £6558. 

The Collection of Mons. Lucas de Montigny, 

Counsellor of the Prefecture of the 

Department of the Seine. 

In the year 1860, the collection of the late M. Lucas 
de Montigny was disposed of at public sale in Paris. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 125 

The sale was divided among sixteen sessions. The 
catalogue is an 8vo volume of 550 pages, containing 
2954 separate lots, many of which comprised a large 
number of autographs. The size of the collection was, 
therefore, very considerable. The catalogue describes 
the pieces with great care, and frequently gives the 
contents — especially of all letters of historical impor- 
tance — either in full or in an abstract form. 

The most notable series in this collection was that 
of the leading persons in the French Revolution and 
the "reign of terror. " These were letters or documents 
of nearly all the members of the Convention, and, in 
addition, a very considerable number of orders of the 
Committee of Safety for the arrest and imprisonment 
of individuals or for setting them at liberty. Of special 
importance, too, were the letters — about 148 in num- 
ber — written by King Henry III. of France; and those 
of Queen Catherine de Medicis — 41 pieces — to many of 
her officials, in relation to the internal affairs of the 
kingdom. 

Apart from the autographs thus named, and some 
correspondence of King Henry IV., the bulk of the col- 
lection was made up of pieces of small moment. Real 
rarities seldom occurred. 

Of letters separately catalogued as A. L. S. folio or 
4to, the following may be named: Charles, Cardinal 



126 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

de Bourbon [proclaimed King of France under the name 
of Charles X.], Jean Chapelain [1595—1674], Diana of 
France [1538-1619], Madame Elizabeth [sister of Louis 
XVL], Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma [1545-1592], 
Francois Malherbe, poet [1555-1628], Marguerite de 
Valois, Queen of France and Navarre [1552-1615], Gilles 
Menage, poet [1613-1693], and Saint Vincent de Paul 
[1576-1660]. 

Among L. S. or D. S. worthy of mention, are 
Charles, Constable of France [1489-1527], King Charles 
V. of France [1337-1380], Diana of Poitiers [1499-1556], 
Johan, Comte de Dunois [Bastard of Orleans, 1402- 
1468], Henri D'Albret, King of Navarre [1503-1555], 
Pierre Mignard, painter [1610 — 1685], Charles Le Val- 
ois, Due d'Orleans [poet, father of Louis XII., 1391— 
1465], Ambroise Pare, surgeon [1510-1590], and Blaise 
Pascal [1623-1662]. 



The Collections of Mr. Young, Mr. John Dillon, 
and Mr. Samuel Addington. 

A remarkably fine collection was disposed of when 
that of Mr. Young came to the auction rooms in Lon- 
don, in April, 1869. The catalogue numbered 125 
pages, large 8vo, and embraced 1050 separate items, 
"the whole in singularly fine condition, selected with 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 127 

great care, solicitude and judgment, as to historical 
and literary importance, from the various collections 
that have been dispersed during the last forty years. " 
Among the few letters of first importance that space per- 
mits to be named, mention should be made of the mem- 
orable A. L. S. 2 pages folio of King Charles the First 
to the Marquis of Ormond [quoted in full in another 
chapter]; a characteristic A. L. S. 2 pages folio of Oliver 
Cromwell to his son; and a most pathetic A. L. S. folio 
of Sir Walter Raleigh, written while he was a prisoner 
in the Tower. 

As being of unusual occurrence, or as having ex- 
ceptional interest, we may also name A. L. S. folio or 
4to of Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre, to Charles 
IX.; Admiral Robert Blake; Sir Thos. Browne; George 
Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, to Cardinal Richelieu 
[1626]; William Camden [historian]; Catherine, Em- 
press of Russia; Capt. James Cook [circumnavigator], 
Abraham Cowley [poet]; Diana of Poitiers; John Dry- 
den; Queen Elizabeth, to King Henry the Fourth, of 
France; Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia; Robert Dever- 
eux, Earl of Essex, to King Charles I.; Henry Fielding; 
Jean de la Fontaine; Francis I., King of France; Fran- 
cis II., King of France; Oliver Goldsmith; Sir Matthew 
Hale; James I., King of England, to Henry the Fourth, 
of France; Sir Godfrey Kneller; Martin Luther; Niccolo 



128 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Macchiavelli; Mary, Queen of Scots; James, Duke of 
Monmouth; James Graham, Marquis of Montrose; 
Sir Isaac Newton; Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumber- 
land; Titus Oates; Johan van Olden Barneveldt [emi- 
nent Dutch statesman]; Philip I., King of Spain; Reg- 
inald, Cardinal Pole; Francois Rabelais [famous French 
author]; Jean Racine; Rembrandt [the great painter]; 
Cardinal Richelieu; Peter Paul Rubens; Johannes 
Secundus [Latin poet]; John Selden [historian]; Sir 
Philip Sidney; Benedict Spinoza [founder of modern 
Pantheism]; Paul Veronese [painter]; Edmund Waller; 
John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury; Cardinal 
Wolsey, to the Archduchess of Parma, Regent of the 
Netherlands; and Sir Henry Wotton. 

The collection of Mr. John Dillon, sold in June, 
1869, was, in its general character, very much like that 
of Mr. Young, and, while slightly larger, was of about 
the same importance. A number of its leading items 
may be specified; such as A. L. S. folio or 4to of Francis 
Bacon, Viscount St. Albans [Lord High Chancellor]; 
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux; many letters and poems 
of Robert Burns; John Calvin [reformer]; Robert Cates- 
by [chief of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators]; Charles 
L, to his sister, the Queen of Bohemia; Charles II., to 
Prince Rupert; Mrs. Susan Cibber [actress], to Garrick; 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 129 

Pope Clement VIII. , to Henry the Fourth, of France; 
Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland [mistress of 
Charles II.]; William Congreve [dramatist]; George 
Fred. Cooke [tragedian]; Oliver Cromwell; Sir William 
Davenant [poet]; Sir Francis Drake [D. S. on vellum]; 
Erasmus of Rotterdam; Henry Fielding; George Fox 
[the Quaker]; Francis I., King of France, to the Em- 
peror Charles V.; John Gay [poet]; Oliver Goldsmith, 
to Sir Joshua Reynolds; John Henderson [actor], to 
Garrick; Henry the Fourth, King of France [5 letters]; 
Henry VIII., King of England; Sir Edward Hyde, Earl 
of Clarendon [historian], to Prince Rupert; Princesse 
de Lamballe, to Louis XVI; Martin Luther; Marguer- 
ite de Valois, wife of King Henry the Fourth, of France; 
Marie Antoinette, to the Princesse de Lamballe; Mary, 
Queen of Scots; James Graham, Marquis of Montrose; 
Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Hugh Peters 
[fanatic and regicide]; Sir Walter Raleigh; Nicholas 
Rowe [dramatist]; Tobias Smollett; Thomas Sou theme; 
Emanuel Swedenborg; Dr. Jonathan Swift; James 
Thomson [poet]; Edmund Waller; Gen. James Wolfe; 
and William Wycherly [dramatist]. 

In April, 1876, the collection of Samuel Addington, 
Esq., was sold by auction. He appears to have been a 
collector for a few years only. The fever had taken 
violent possession of him at the time of the Young and 



130 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Dillon sales; where, having ample means to distance 
all competitors, he bought a great part of the most 
costly and valuable items then offered, at prices that 
were considered very high. His collection was small, 
but very choice. It consisted of 396 numbers only, 
most of them containing a single letter or document. 
To name the most valuable of its component parts 
would be nearly to repeat very many of the names 
specified in the accounts of the Young and Dillon col- 
lections. The gross proceeds of the sale were £2151.8.6; 
prices having fallen considerably below those paid by 
Mr. Addington in 1869. 

Mr. Hazlitt, in "Four Generations of a Literary 
Family," speaks of him as "a noted and conspicuous 
character in the auction rooms. A tall, imposing fig- 
ure, with an inclination to stoop, illiterate, but having 
the keenest and truest instinct for what was worth 
having, whether prints, miniatures, books, manuscripts, 
or coins. He was a bachelor, with some £15,000 a 
year. He was perhaps the first to give prices totally 
beyond record and example; declining to be beaten by 
any other collector." 

The Sensier Collection. 

In February, 1878, the collection of Mr. Alfred 
Sensier was sold at auction in Paris. He was born in 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 131 

that city on Dec. 25, 1815, and died there on Jan. 7, 
1877. In 1848 he received an official position under 
the Minister of the Interior, which he held until 1872. 
The great painters Theodore Rousseau, Jean Francois 
Millet, and Narcisse Diaz were his intimate personal 
friends. He commenced his collection at the age of 
twenty, and continued to add to it, with intelligence, 
taste and earnestness, until the time of his death. 

The catalogue is a 4to volume of 117 pages, with 
many fac-similes, prepared by Etienne Charavay; and 
includes among its 782 items many of the leading names 
in the series of Heads of Government, Statesmen, 
French Revolution, Warriors, Savants, Writers, Ar- 
tists, Composers of Music, and Noted Women. The 
French Revolution series was particularly fine. 

The Collection of M. Benjamin Fillon. 

In 1878 the remarkable collection of M. Benjamin 
Fillon was disposed of at public sale in Paris. The 
catalogue was prepared with great care by Etienne 
Charavay, and is very interesting and valuable as a 
book of reference, inasmuch as it gives, in addition to 
the notes descriptive of the autographs, a great number 
of fac-similes. It consists of three 4to volumes, con- 
taining, respectively, 239, 381, and 200 pages; and de- 



132 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

scribes 2986 autographs, all of which are choice, while 
many of them are of extreme rarity. It may be inter- 
esting to note some of the most important items, with 
the prices at which they sold. 
Savonarola, Girolamo. [1452-1498.] A. L. S. oblong 

4to. Florence, Oct. 28, 1495. 600 francs. 
Rabelais, Francois. L. S. 4J^ PP- folio. Rome, Jan. 

28, 1536. 1000 francs. 
Bacon, Francis. [1560-1626]. A. L. S. folio. "Fr. 

Verulam, Cane." To the Marquis of Buckingham. 

Nov. 28, 1619. 500 francs. 
Galileo-Galilei. [1564-1642.] A. L. S. folio. March 

4, 1635. Written from prison. 695 francs. 
Pascal, Blaise. [1623-1662.] A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. 

Jan. 1643. 1500 francs. 
Malehranche, Nicolas. [1638-1715.] A. L. S. 2 pp. 

4to. Paris, Dec. 5, 1713. 125 francs. 
Newton, Sir Isaac. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. Aug. 12, 1719. 

1500 francs. 
Louis XL A. L. S. oblong 4to. To Due d'Orleans. 

500 francs. 
Catherine de Medicis. A. L. S. 4 pp. folio. June 12, 

1569. To Charles IX. 200 francs. 
Marie Antoinette. A. L. S. small 4to. Jan. 31, 1775. 

650 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 133 

Marguerite de Valois [la Marguerite des Marguerites], 

A. L. S. folio. April 11, 1492. 100 francs. 
Henry VIII., King of England. A. L. S. Y% p. folio. 

To Margaret of Austria. 1000 francs. 
Queen Elizabeth. A. L. S. folio. To Catherine de 

Medicis. 1500 francs. 
Cromwell, Oliver. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. Dec. 7, 1657. 

To Cardinal Mazarin. 1105 francs. 
Marie Stuart, Queen of Scots. A. L. S. folio. July 27, 

1568. To Catherine de Medicis. 450 francs. 
Charles V., Emperor of Germany. A. L. S. V/2 pp. 

folio. June 7, 1525. To Francis I., of France. 555 

francs. 
Philip II., of Spain. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio. Dec. 16, 

1578. To Pope Gregory XIII. 85 francs. 
Richelieu, Armand Jean Duplessis, Cardinal. A. L. S. 

4to. Sept. 29, 1628. To Marie de Medicis. 1000 

francs. 
Vespucci, Emerico. [1451-1512.] A. L. S. oblong 4to. 

Florence, Oct. 18, 1476. To his father. 2600 francs. 
Hawkins, Sir John. [English navigator.] A. L. S. 

folio. Bedford, July 11, 1581. 180 francs. 
Pico Delia Mirandola, Giovanni. [Philosopher.] A. L. 

S. 3 pp. folio. Ferrare, May 15, 1492. 600 francs. 
Ronsard, Pierre de. [Eminent poet. 1524-1585.] A. 

L. S. 4to. 250 francs. 



134 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Frangois de Sales, Saint. A. L. S. folio. Annecy, 

May 8, 1610. 145 francs. 
Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de. [1594—1655.] A. L. S. 

23^2 PP- 4to. Rome, Jan. 11, 1621. 250 francs. 
Scarron, Paul. [Comic poet.] A. L. S. 4to. 1660. 

200 francs. 
La Fontaine, Jean de. A. L. S. 2J^ pp. 4to. Aug. 28, 

1692. 345 francs. 
Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelin de. P. S. 4to. Paris, 

May 22, 1670. 300 francs. 
Racine, Jean. A. L. S. V/± pp. 4to. May 16, 1692. 

295 francs. 
Le Sage, Alain Rene. [1668-1747.] A. L. S. 2 pp. 

4to. 410 francs. 
Prevost & Exiles, Fabbe. [1697-1763.] A. L. S. 4pp. 

4to. 460 francs. 
Chenier, Andre Marie de. A. L. S. 1^ pp. 4to. Lon- 
don, Nov. 24, 1789. To his father. 700 francs. 
Ariosto, Lodovico. A. L. S. folio. Ferrare, June 6, 1519. 

350 francs. 
Colonna, Vittoria. [1490-1547.] A. L. S. iy 2 pp. 

folio. 150 francs. 
Tasso, Torquato. [1544-1595.] A. L. S. iy 2 pp. folio. 

Ferrare, June 21, 1575. 600 francs. 
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. P. A. S. [3 lines]. 1J^ 

pp. folio. Feb. 4, 1593. 600 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 135 

Vega-Carpio, Felix Lope de. [Spanish dramatic poet.} 

P. A. S. 8 pp. small 4to. 399 francs. 
Erasmus of Rotterdam. A. L. S. folio. Fribourg, Aug. 

22. ISO francs. 
Lecouvreur, Adrienne. [Tragic actress.] A. L. S. 43^ 

pp. 4to. Paris, Jan. 10, 1730. 500 francs. 
Stella, Jacques. [Celebrated painter.] A. L. S. folio. 

Rome, Feb. 19, 1633. 100 francs. 
Vouet, Simon. [Celebrated painter.] A. L. S. V/i pp. 

folio. May 21, 1621. 130 francs. 
Mansart, Jules Hardouin, called. [Architect.] A. L. 

S. 2 pp. folio. Clagny, Sept. 19, 1677. 300 francs. 
Fanucci, Pietro. Called Le Perrugin. [Celebrated 

painter.] A. L. S. folio. Florence, Aug. 16, 1504. 

650 francs. 
Buonarotti, Michel Angiolo. [The grand painter.] A. 

L. S. Y 2 page oblong 4to. [Jan. 25, 1545.] 500 

francs. 

Titian, Vicelli Tiziano, called. A. L. S. folio. Rome, 
Dec. 8, 1545. To the Emperor Charles V. 2000 
francs. 

Santi y Rafaele. P. S. Yl p. 4to, with two lines auto- 
graph. Rome, Jan. 1, 1515. 2000 francs. 

Pippi, Giulio — called Giulio Romano. A. L. S. folio. 
April 30, 1541. 700 francs. 



136 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Cagliari, Paolo — called Paul Veronese. A. L. S. folio. 

Venise, March 2, 1578. 225 francs. 
Caracci, Lodovico. [1555-1619.] A. L. S. folio. 1616. 

102 francs. 

Cranach, Lucas. [Celebrated painter and engraver. 
1472-1553.] A. L. S. 8vo. 400 francs. 

Rubens, Peter Paul. A. L. S. small folio. Rome, 
April 28, 1607. 380 francs. 

Jordaens, Jakob. [1594-1678.] A. L. S. \y 2 pp. folio. 
Anvers, Nov. 8, 1651. 360 francs. 

Van Dyck, Anthony. L. S. 2 pp. folio. Paris, Nov. 16, 
1641. 420 francs. 

Rembrandt. A. L. S. folio. To Constantin Huygens. 
800 francs. 

Rameau, Jean Phil. [Noted composer.] A. L. S. 4to. 
June 29, 1754. 305 francs. 

Lulli, Giambattista. [Composer.] P. A. S. [on vel- 
lum] oblong 4to. June 3, 1684. 70 francs. 

Cimarosa, Domenico. [Composer.] A. L. S. 2 pp. 
folio. April 30, 1793. 250 francs. 

Handel, Georg Friedrich. A. L. S. 3 pp. 4to. London, 
Feb. 20, 1719. 910 francs. 

Gluck, Christoph Willibald. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. 
Paris, Nov. 16, 1777. 1135 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 137 

Beethoven, Ludwig von. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to. Relative 

to one of his compositions. Baden, 1810. 227 

francs. 
Ignatius de Loyola. [Founder of the Jesuits.] L. S. 2 

pages 4to. Rome, Feb. 17, 1546. 3100 francs. 
Reuchlin, Johann. [Reformer.] A. L. S. folio. May 

7, 1518. 1000 francs. 
Luther, Martin. P. A. S. folio [on vellum]. Nov. 24, 

1543. 1300 francs. 
Zzvingli, Ulrich. [Reformer.] A. L. S. 4to. Aug. 10, 

1529. 1000 francs. 

The Chambry Collection. 

On March 7, 1881, there was sold, in Paris, a col- 
lection that was considered one of the most notable in 
France. It had belonged to M. Etienne Pierre Louis 
Chambry, a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, who was 
born Dec. 24, 1786, and died Oct. 15, 1871. He com- 
menced his collection when he was a very young man, 
and for years was a large purchaser at all the sales in 
Paris. 

The catalogue is an 8vo pamphlet of 90 pages, des- 
cribing 674 separate items, the most important of which 
is an A. L. S. 1^ pages 8vo of Pierre Corneille, the il- 
lustrious French tragic poet, written to Pellisson. 



138 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

This autograph — bought by M. Charnbry, in 1856, at 
the Parison sale — is unique in private collections. 

The catalogue was compiled by Etienne Charavay, 
who closes a short preface by calling attention to the 
fact that he had excluded from the sale certain letters 
which, in the opinion of all the experts, were counter- 
feit. They came from the famous genealogical cabinet 
of Letellier — the prolific source of so many forgeries — 
and included such names as Charles VII., Agnes Sorel, 
the Chevalier Bayard, Rabelais, Diana of Poitiers, 
Bonnivet, Raphael, and Michel-Angelo. He also 
excluded letters of Jean Racine, Louis XVI., and Marie 
Antoinette; the geniuneness of which was doubted. 
The sale produced 54,900 francs. 
Among the gems of the collection, the following 
autographs may be specified : 
Amboise, Georges, Cardinal d\ The illustrious Prime 

Minister of Louis XII. A. L. S. 2 pages folio. 160 

francs. 
Anne de Bretagne, Queen of France. A. L. S. folio. 

205 francs. 
Anne de France. Daughter of Louis XL Regent of 

France under Charles VIII. A. L. S. 4to. 205 francs. 
Beauharnais, Josephine de. Empress of France. A. 

L. S. 3 pages 8vo. To Vadier. Paris, 28 nivose an 

II. 400 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 139 

Bichat, Ft. Xavier. The creator of modern physiology. 

A. L. S. 2^2P a £ es 4to. 205 francs. 
Boileau-Despreaux, Nicolas. The great satiric poet. 

A. L. S. 4to. Paris, May 25, 1673. 200 francs. 
Bonaparte, Charles de. Father of Xapoleon I. A. L. 

S. [in Italian] 1% pages 4to. Ajaccio, Nov. 7, 1784. 

505 francs. 
Cadoudal, Georges de. The celebrated Chouan chief. 

A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. May 18, 1796. 200 francs. 
Charles Fill., King of France. L. S. folio, with 3 lines 

autograph. 315 francs. 
Charles IX., King of France. A. L. S. }/± page folio. 

To his mother, Catherine de Medicis. 150 francs. 
Chenier, Andre Marie de. The celebrated poet. A. L. 

S. 4 pages 4to. To the King of Poland. Paris, 

November 18, 1790. 1910 francs. 
Claude de France. Queen of France. Wife of Francis 

I. L. S. Y2 page 4to. 135 francs. 
Coligny, Gaspard de. The illustrious admiral. Assas- 
sinated. A. L. S. 1J4 pages folio. To the Queen of 

Navarre. July 2, 1569. 600 francs. 
Commynes, Philippe de. Illustrious historian. L. S. 

folio, with 12 lines autograph. July 23, 1505. To 

the Queen. 220 francs. 
Corneille, Thomas. Celebrated dramatic poet. A. L. 

S. 3 pages 8vo. Sept. 13, 1702. 600 francs. 



140 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Deshoulieres, Antoinette Ligier de la Garde. Celebrated 

poet. [1638-1694.] A. L. S. iy 2 pages 8vo. 500 

francs. 
Fabert, Abraham. Illustrious French marshal. A. L. 

S. 2 pages 4to. July 2, 1657. To Cardinal Mazarin. 

75 francs. 
Fenelon, Frangois de la Mothe Salignac. Archbishop 

of Cambray. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to. Cambrai, May 

17, 1717. 300 francs. 
Frangois /., King of France. A. L. S. J^ page 4to. 

April 4, 1526. To the Emperor Charles V. 100 

francs. 
Frangois II., King of France. A. L. S. Y% page folio. 

Sept. 10, 1552. To the king, his father. 210 francs. 
Gluck, Christophe. The great composer. A. L. S. 4to. 

April 1,1778. 5 10 francs. 
Guy on, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte. Celebrated 

mystic. Friend of Fenelon. P. A. S. V/i pages 4to. 

April 15, 1695. 105 francs. 
Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre. A. L. S. % P a 8 e 

folio. To Monsieur. 
LaFayette, Marie Madeleine Pioche de la Vergne, Com- 

tesse de. Celebrated writer. A. L. S. 4to. Feb. 

13, 1662. To Arnauld de Pomponne. 85 francs. 
Lannes, Jean. Celebrated French marshal. A. L. S. 

4to. Oct. 14, 1806. To Napoleon I. 150 francs. 



EUROPEAN COEEECTIOXS 141 

La Rochefoucauld, Francois FF, Due de. The illus- 
trious author of the "Maxims." A. L. S. V/2 pages 
4to. To Madame de Scudery. 

La Sabliere, Marguerite Hessin de. The celebrated 
friend of La Fontaine. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to. To 
Pere Rapin. 1010 francs. 

La F oilier e, Duckesse de. Celebrated mistress of Louis 
XIV. A. L. S. 2 pages 8vo. 245 francs. 

Lecouvreur, Adrienn-e. The great tragic actress. Auto- 
graph letter (unsigned), \ l A pages 4to. Jan. 10, 
1730. 4S0 francs. 

Lesage, Alain Rene. Author of "Gil Bias." A. L. S. 
SJ4 pages 4to. Paris, June 18, 1715. 920 francs. 

is XII., King of France. A. L. S. folio. To his 
daughter. 500 francs. 

Marat, Jean Paul. French revolutionist. A. L. S. 
3}o pages folio. Paris, July 4, 1793. 325 francs. 

Marguerite c? Angoulemt , Queen of Navarre. Author 
of the "Heptameron." A. L. S. l / 2 page folio. To 
Charles V. 205 francs. 

Marie Stuart, Qu4en of Scots. A. L. S. \ l / 2 pages folio. 
Nov. 13, 1574. To the Archbishop of Glasgow. 
1005 francs. 

Massillon, J. B., Bishop of Clermont. Celebrated pul- 
pit orator. A. L. S. 3 pages folio. Feb. 16, 1723. 
300 francs. 



142 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Napoleon I., Emperor of France. A. L. S. 4to. Ajac- 
cio, June 12, 1792. 600 francs. 

Piccinni, Nicolas. Noted composer. A. L. S. 2% 
pages 4to. Oct. 22, 1782. 105 francs. 

Pompadour, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de. 
A. L. S. % page 8vo. To Malesherbes. Oct. 18, 
1752. 155 francs. 

Prevost d* Exiles, Vabbe Ant. Fr. Author of "Manon 
Lescaut." A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. Oct. 8, 1738. 
200 francs. 

Racan, Honorat de Bueil, Marquis de. Celebrated 
poet. A. L. S. 4to. Dec. 16, 1665. 500 francs. 

Rameau, J. Ph. Celebrated composer. A. L. S. Y2 
page 4to. June 7, 1758. 500 francs. 

Ronsard, Pierre de. Celebrated poet. A. L. S. folio. 
395 francs. 

Saint Amant, Marc Antoine Gerard, Sieur de. Poet. 
A. L. S. 2J4 pages folio. April 1, 1648. 660 francs. 

Scarron, Paul. Noted writer. A. L. S. 13^ pages 4to. 
505 francs. 

Vincent de Paul, Saint. A. L. S. 4to, 2 pages. Sept. 
20, 1642. 300 francs. 

Corneille, Pierre. The great tragic poet. A. L. S. V/% 
pages 8vo. To Pellisson. 4000 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 143 

The Bovet Collection. 

One of the best collections that ever fell under the 
hammer of the auctioneer was that of Alfred Bovet, 
which was sold in Paris in 1887. The catalogue — 
prepared by Etienne Charavay, with a very interest- 
ing preface — is an unusually handsome 4to volume 
of 880 pages, with hundreds of fac-similes. It enu- 
merates 2138 separate items, representing the leading 
names in most of the principal series. M. Bovet com- 
menced the formation of this collection in the year 
1869; and the earnestness and enthusiasm with which 
he devoted himself to the pursuit of his hobby are 
shown by the fact that in nineteen years he had ac- 
quired this splendid aggregation of letters and docu- 
ments, many of which had previously been in the noted 
collections of Chambry, Tremont, Dubrunfaut, Fillon, 
and Sensier. The following named items will exemplify 
its general character. 

Charles FL, King of France. L. S. oblong folio [on 
vellum], 1368. 92 francs. 

Charles VII., King of France. L. S. oblong 4to. 56 
francs. 

Francis I., King of France. A. L. S. 4to. To the Em- 
peror Charles V. 255 francs. 



144 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Catharine de M edicts. A. L. S. folio, 1583. To Mary, 

Queen of Scots. 610 francs. 
Desmoulins, Camille. A. L. S. 4to, 1790. To his 

father. 100 francs. 
Dunois, Jean ^Orleans, Comte de. Called "the bastard 

of Orleans." [1402-1468.] A. L. S. oblong 4to. 

500 francs. 
Bonaparte, Napoleon. A. L. S. 4to, 1793. 1000 francs. 
Sickingen, Franz von. Noted soldier and Protestant. 

Friend of Luther. A. L. S. folio, 1519. 720 francs. 
Wallenstein, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von. The great 

general in the Thirty Years' War. A. L. S. folio, 

1619. 200 francs. 
Garcia de Paredes, Don Diego. Noted Spanish general, 

surnamed "the Spanish Bayard." A. L. S. folio, 

1512. To Ferdinand, King of Spain. 495 francs. 
Galilei, Galileo. A. L. S. folio, 1601. 690 francs. 
Cook, Capt. James. Explorer. A. L. S. 4to, 1776. 

100 francs. 
Vancouver, George. Explorer. A. L. S. 4to, 1797. 

110 francs. 
Ronsard, Pierre de. Noted poet. [1524-1585.] A. L. 

S. 4to. 330 francs. 
Francois de Sales, Saint. [1567-1622.] A. L. S. 1J^ 

pp. folio. July 31, 1613. To the Duke of Savoy. 

260 francs. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 145 

Corneille, .Pierre. D. S. folio. 1663. 1785 francs. 
Scarron, Paul. Poet. A. L. S. 4to, 1660. 300 francs. 
La Fontaine, Jean de. [1621-1695.] A. D. S. 4to. 

100 francs. 
Moliere, Jean Baptist e Poquelin, Called. [1622-1673.] 

D. S. 314 PP- folio, 1670. 2500 francs. 
Malebranche, Nicolas. [1638-1715.] A. L. S. 4 pp. 

4to, 1714. 130 francs. 
Le Sage, Alain Rene. [1668-1747.] A. L. S. 6 pp. 4to, 

1715. 1010 francs. 
Prevost D' Exiles, Vabbe Antoine Francois. [1697-1763.] 

A. L. S. 3pp. 4to, 1735. 260 francs. 
Chenier, Andre Marie de. Poet. [1762-1794.] A. L. 

S. \y 2 pp. 4to, 1789. To his father. 810 francs. 
Reuchlin, Joliann. Reformer. A. L. S. folio, 1518. 

1200 francs. 
Luther, Martin. A. L. S. oblong 4to, 1526. 1000 

francs. 
Hutten, Ulrich von. Friend and pupil of Luther. A. L. 

S. folio, 1520. 1210 francs. 
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. [1729-1781.] A. L. S. 

3Y 2 pp. 4to, 1767. 700 francs. 
Byron, Lord. The English poet. A. L. S. 4to, 1820. 

200 francs. 
Shelley, Percy B. A. L. S. iy 2 pp. 4to, 1820. To 

Lord Bvron. 500 francs. 



146 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Erasmus, Desiderius. A. L. S. 1J^ pp. folio, 1527. 

360 francs. 
Mignard, Pierre. Painter. [1612-1695.] A. L. S. 

2 pp. folio, 1693. 235 francs. 
Greuze, Jean Baptisie. Painter. [1725-1805.] A. L. 

S. 4to, 1766. 250 francs. 
Duquesne, Abraham. Illustrious naval officer. [1610- 

1688.] A. L. S. 4to, 1661. 80 francs. 
Lenclos, Ninon de. Celebrated courtesan. [1620-1705.] 

A. L. S. 2Y 2 pp. 8vo. 300 francs. 
La Valliere, Madame de. Mistress of Louis XIV. A. 

L. S. 2Y2 pp. 8vo. 330 francs. 
Pompadour, Marquise de. Mistress of Louis XV. A. 

L.S.8vo. 300 francs. 
Corday, Charlotte. A. L. S. 4to, 1789. 400 francs. 

The Collection of Count Paar. 

The collection of Ludwig, Count Paar, which was 
sold in Berlin in March, 1893, was said, at the time, 
to be of such a character that its equal would not be 
seen at auction for many years to come. This was the 
opinion generally expressed by the dealers; and the 
prices that were realized for the more important items, 
though then thought to be extremely high, would 
probably be considered quite reasonable to-day. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 147 

The catalogue is a pamphlet of 255 pages, with 
many facsimiles, enumerating 2074 items, embracing 
the series of Royalty, Warriors, Statesmen, the Re- 
formation, Scientists, Poets and Prose-writers, Com- 
posers of music, Painters and Sculptors, Celebrated 
Women, Popes, and Saints. Some of these series — 
as, for instance, those of the Reformation and the Thirty 
Years' War — were particularly fine. The following 
names are worthy of special mention. 
Christian II. [King of Denmark. "The Nero of the 

North"]. L. S. 3 pp. folio, 1525. 50 marks. 
Bianca Capello [wife of Francesco de Medici. Cele- 
brated for her beauty and her adventures]. L. S. 
4to, 1584. 56 marks. 

Peter the Great [Sovereign of Russia]. A. L. S. 4to, 1720. 

400 marks. 
Philip II. [King of Spain]. A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, 1593. 

To Pope Clement VIII. 200 marks. 
Wallenstein, Albrecht, Graf von [the great general of 

the Thirty Years' War]. A. L. S. folio, 1619. 300 

marks. 
Gotz von Berlichingen [1480-1562. Celebrated German 

soldier]. A. L. S. oblong 4to. 235 marks. 
Hofer, Andreas [Tyrolese patriot]. A. L. S. folio, 1809. 

143 marks. 



148 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Sickingen, Franz von [celebrated German soldier and 

Protestant reformer]. A. L. S. folio, 1520. 415 

marks. 
Borgia, Ccesar [son of Pope Alexander VI. and brother 

of Lucretia Borgia]. D. S. oblong folio, 1503. 150 

marks. 
Doria, Andrea [Illustrious Genoese admiral]. A. L. S. 

folio, 1545. 86 marks. 
Robespierre, Maximilien [French Revolution]. A. L. S. 

4 pp. 4to, 1790. 291 marks. 
Washington, George. A. L. S. 4to, 1799. 130 marks. 
Calvin, Jean [Reformer]. A. L. S. 2 x /3 pp. folio, 1545. 

365 marks. 
Erasmus, Desiderius. A. L. S. 3 pp. folio, 1528. 555 

marks. 
Hutten, Ulrich von [German poet and Protestant re- 
former. 1488-1523]. A. L. S. 4to. 590 marks. 
Luther, Martin. A. L. S. folio, 1519. 650 marks. 
Melancthon, Philipp [Luther's friend]. A. L. S. 3 pp. 

folio, 1552. 150 marks. 
Peutinger, Conrad [Protestant reformer]. A. L. S. 3 pp. 

folio, 1522. 410 marks. 
Pirkheimer, Wilibald [Protestant reformer]. A. L. S. 

folio, 1519. 335 marks. 
Reuchlin, Johann [Protestant reformer]. A. L. S. folio, 

1518. 580 marks. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 149 

Zwingli, Ulrich [Protestant reformer]. A. L. S. folio, 
1524. 630 marks. 

Kepler, Johannes [Astronomer]. A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 
1613. 350 marks. 

Mercator, Gerard Kauffmann, called [the great Geogra- 
pher]. A. L. S. folio, 1577. 402 marks. 

Spinoza, Benedict [1632-1677. Philosopher]. A. L. S. 
2 pp. 4to, 1675. 1100 marks. 

Frank, Sebastian [1500-1545. German prose-writer]. 
A. L. S. 2 pp. folio, 1533. 152 marks. 

Aretino, Pietro [poet]. A. L. S. folio, 1553. 850 marks. 

Mendoza, Don Inigo Lopez de [Spanish poet]. D. S. 
folio, on vellum, 1452. 205 marks. 

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus [the great Composer]. A. 
L. S. 2 pp. 4to, 1781. 420 marks. 

Buonarotti, Michel Angiolo, called Michel- Angelo. 
A. D. S. of 3 lines, on the back of a document signed 
by Pope Leo X. 3 pp. folio, 1518. 1850 marks. 

Durer, Albrecht [the great Painter]. Autograph docu- 
ment, 16 lines, oblong folio, 1518. 585 marks. 

Pippi, Giulio — called Giulio Romano [1492-1546. 
Painter]. A. L. S. V/ 2 pp. folio, 1541. 500 marks. 

Titian [the illustrious Painter]. A. L. S. folio, 1548. 
To King Ferdinand I. 1825 marks. 

Lucretia Borgia [One of the great celebrities of Italian 
history]. A. L. S. folio. 1800 marks. 



ISO BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Colonna, Vittoria — Marchesa di Pescara [1490-1547. 

Noted for her intellect, beauty and virtues]. A. L. 

S. 2 pp. folio. SOS marks. 
Marguerite de Valois [Queen of Navarre. Author of 

the "Heptameron"]. A. L. S. folio. 1050 marks. 
Leo X. [Pope]. A. L. S. folio, 1492. 75 marks. 
Sales, Saint Francis de [1567-1622]. A. D. S. folio, 

1614. 40 marks. 

Collection of Alexander Meyer Cohn. 

Among the private collections of autographs 
formed in Germany during the latter half of the 19th 
century, that of Alexander Meyer Cohn held first rank. 
He was a resident of Berlin, born in 1853, and was a 
most energetic and intelligent collector. When he 
died, in 1904, he left, as part of his worldly possessions, 
a truly magnificent gathering of autographs. It was 
offered for sale at auction, in Berlin, in two parts; the 
first on Oct. 23-28, 1905, and the second on Feb. 5-10, 
1906. The catalogues are two 4to volumes which, 
together, contain 316 pages, enumerating 3437 items, 
with very many facsimiles. The entire sale, including 
an important lot of modern political documents which 
were sold to the German government, realized a total 
of more than 300,000 marks. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 151 

From this wealth of material the following names 
are selected, as being of unusual occurrence or of special 
note. 
Friedrich V., King of Bohemia ["The Winter King"]. 

A. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1618. 295 marks. 
Friedrich Wilhelm. The great Elector of Brandenburg. 

A. L. S. folio, 1671. 560 marks. 
Catharine of Aragon. Queen of Henry VIII. L. S. 

folio, 1531. 1150 marks. 
Edward VI., King of England. D. S., 1548. 1150 

marks. 
Napoleon Bonaparte. A. L. S. 1J^ pages folio, 1796. 

2510 marks. 
William of Nassau, Prince of Orange. [Called "the 

Silent."] A. L. S. 4 pages folio, 1561. To Count 

Egmont. 405 marks. 
Catherine II., Empress of Russia. A. L. S. 4to, 1760. 

400 marks. 
Desmoulins, Camille. A. L. S. 4to. An. III. 411 

marks. 
Brant, Sebastian [Writer]. A. L. S. folio, 1505. 440 

marks. 
Luther, Martin. A. L. S. folio, 1525. 1400 marks. 
Goethe, Johann W. von. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 1780. 

801 marks. 



152 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Grillparzer, Franz. Dramatist. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 

1819. 551 marks. 
Kant, Immanuel. Philosopher. A. L. S. 4to, 1770. 

335 marks. 
Kleist, Heinrich von. Poet. A. L. S. 4to, 1810. 490 

marks. 
Mendelssohn, Moses. Philosopher. A. L. S. 4to, 1779. 

255 marks. 
Danneker, Johann Heinrich von. Sculptor. A. L. S. 

4to, 1797. 715 marks. 
Chenier, Andre Marie de. Poet. A. L. S. 4to, 1789. 

780 marks. 
La Fontaine, Jean de. A. L. S. 3 pages 8vo, 1656. 600 

marks. 
Le Sage, Alain Rene [1668-1747]. A. L. S. 6 pages 4to, 

1715. 955 marks. 
Spinoza, Benedict de [1632-1677]. Eminent philos- 
opher. A. L. S. 4to, 1675. 1175 marks. 
Colder on de la Bare a, Don Pedro. Eminent Spanish 

poet. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1635. 1410 marks. 
Cranach, Lucas. Eminent painter. A. L. S. folio, 

1538. 810 marks. 
Jordaens, Jakob. Painter. A. L. S. folio, 1649. 1150 

marks. 
Rembrandt. The great painter. A. L. S. folio, 1639. 

7000 marks. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 153 

Rubens, Peter Paul. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1627. 1500 

marks. 
Raphael. The illustrious painter. A. D. S. [2 lines] 

folio, 1514. 1000 marks. 
Titian. The great painter. A. L. S. folio, 1548. 1910 

marks. 
Gluck, Christoph Willibald. Composer of music. A. L. 

S. 3 pages folio, 1769. 4000 marks. 
Lasso, Orlando [1532-1594]. Composer of music. A. 

L. S. 3 pages folio. 2050 marks. 
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. A. L. S. 4to, 1788. 1105 

marks. 

Geibel and Herz Collections 
In 1911, the collections of Dr. Carl Geibel, of Leip- 
zig, and Carl Herz v. Hertenried, of Vienna, were sold 
at auction in Leipzig. They were remarkable chiefly 
for letters of men noted in connection with the Refor- 
mation, and of some of the great painters and com- 
posers of music. The following names may be men- 
tioned as among those that commanded the highest 
prices : 

Berlichingen, Gotz von [1480-1562]. A. L. S. 4to. 580 
marks. 

Eck, Johann Maier [1486-1543]. A. L. S. folio. 720 
marks. 



154 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Erasmus, Desiderius [1467-1536]. A. L. S. folio. 810 
marks. 

Luther, Martin. A. L. S. 43^ pages folio. 102,000 
marks. 

[Note. — This letter was bought for J. Pierpont Morgan, the New York 
banker, who presented it to the German Kaiser. It was written to the Emperor 
Charles V., defending the position he [Luther] had taken at the Diet of Worms. 
Its contents were such that no one dared to deliver it to the Emperor. It is safe 
to say that such an enormous price was never before paid for any autograph.] 

Bora, Katharina von [Luther's wife]. A. L. S. 1J^ 
pages folio, 1546. Written to her sister. 6000 
marks. 

Sickingen, Franz von [1481-1523]. A. L. S. 2J^ pages 
folio, 1521. 560 marks. 

Zwingli, Ulrich. A. L. S. 33^ pages folio, 1528. 3200 
marks. 

Rubens, Peter Paul [Painter]. A. L. S. 2^ pages folio, 
1628. 1520 marks. 

Rafaele Santi [1483-1520]. A. L. S. 4to, 1514. 1560 
marks. 

Mozart, Wollgang Amadeus. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1789. 
1505 marks. 

The Huth Collection. 

The small collection formed by Mr. Henry Huth, 
and sold in London on June 12 and 13, 1911, realized 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 155 

prices so far in excess of any that had been previously 
obtained, or that were believed to be warranted by 
the rarity of the pieces, as to be truly astonishing. 

Mr. W. Carew Hazlitt, in his "Four Generations 
of a Literary Family," says: — "Henry Huth was a 
gentleman, a scholar, and a linguist — affable, kind and 
unostentatious. He was born in 1815, and succeeded 
his father, Frederick Huth, in the firm of F. Huth & 
Co., carrying on a very extensive and profitable mer- 
cantile business. A great book collector, possessing a 
fair knowledge of the contents of books, and a master 
of several languages, he accumulated, in the course of 
many years, an exceedingly valuable library, largely 
from the Daniel and Corser sales. His wealth, coupled 
with the fact that prices were vastly lower in the 1860s. 
and 70s. than they now are, enabled him to do this. 
He died in December, 1878, from the effects of a fall 
in his own home, which fractured his skull. His 
library and manuscript letters and documents passed 
into the hands of his son, who made numerous addi- 
tions to them." 

The catalogue of the collection is a pamphlet of 
43 pages, with many facsimiles, and describes 246 
separate items, which produced the remarkable total 
of £13166. An article in the London "Times," com- 
menting on the sale, makes the statement that the 



156 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

whole collection cost very little over £2000 between 

the years 1862 and 1880; and gives, in many instances, 

the particular prices paid by Mr. Huth. 

The following names will exemplify the general 

character of the collection, and will show the vast 

difference between the prices paid, and those received, 

for some of the principal letters. 

Burns, Robert. Autograph manuscript of the famous 
cantata of "The Jolly Beggars," 3 pages folio. £490. 

Defoe, Daniel. A. L. S. 1 page 4to, 1704. Signed 
"D.F." £295. 

Dryden, John. (Poet.) A. L. S. 4to, 1698. £200. 

Edward IV. [King of England] and his brother Ed- 
mund. Letter on paper, in Latin, signed by both, 
1 page oblong folio. London, Dec. 10, 1460. £130. 
[Cost Mr. Huth £16.15 at the Addington sale.] 

Elizabeth [Queen of England]. A. L. S., 3 pages folio. 
To Henry IV., of France. £365. 

Galileo [the great astronomer]. A. L. S. 1J^ pages 
folio, 1635. £116. 

Goldsmith, Oliver. A. L. S. 2^ pages 4to. To Sir 
Joshua Reynolds. £280. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £17.17 at the Dillon sale.] 

Katherine of Arragon [Queen of Henry VIII.]. A. L. S. 
3 pages folio, Buckden, Feb. 8, 1534. To the Em- 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 157 

peror Charles V., on the subject of her divorce. 
£800. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £26 at Puttick & Simpson's, in 
1862.] 
Katherine Parr [Queen of Henry VIII.]. L. S. 1 page 
oblong folio. £175. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £27 at Puttick & Simpson's in 
1862.] 
Keats, John [Poet]. A. L. S. iy 2 pages 4to, 1818. To 
his publisher, relating to the proof sheets of "Endy- 
mbn." £450. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £27.] 
Lamb, Charles. Autograph manuscript of his Essay 
"Grace before Meat." 6}/2 pages folio, signed 
"Elia." £455. 
[Cost Mr. Huth £5.2.6.] 
Luther, Martin. A. L. S. 134 pages folio, 1525. To 
John, Duke of Saxony. £495. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £14 at the Addington sale.] 
Mary Tudor [Queen of England]. A. L. S. folio, 1557. 
To the Emperor Charles V. £420. 
[Cost Mr. Huth £81]. 
Mary, Queen of Scots. A. L. S. folio, 1586. Written 
to the French Ambassador while she was in captivity 
at Chartley. £1025. 

[Cost Mr. Huth 2 guineas at Puttick & Simpson's 
in 1862.] 



158 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Raleigh, Sir Walter. A. L. S. folio. Written from the 
Tower to Sir Walter Cope, begging that his wife 
might be allowed to share his captivity. £520. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £84 at the sale of the Young col- 
lection in 1869.] 

Shelley, Percy B. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1821. To 
Joseph Severn, on John Keats and "Adonais." 
£770. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £6.12.] 

Washington, George. A. L. S. 3J^ pages 4to, 1788. To 
Sir Edward Newenham. £71. 

[Cost Mr. Huth £9.15 at the Addington sale.] 



CHAPTER X 

The Collection Formed by Alfred Morrison. 

IN previous chapters mention has been made of a 
number of the leading European collections which, 
in successive decades since 1846, have gone to 
public sale. While it might be interesting to give 
a similar detailed notice of other great collections, it 
is not possible to do so within the limits assigned to 
the present book. There is, however, one collection — 
part of which has lately been sold at auction, where 
the remaining and larger part is shortly to be sold — 
that far exceeds in importance and value any other of 
which we have knowledge. It is that of Alfred Morri- 
son, a London merchant of great wealth, who was born 
in 1821 and died in 1897. The "Dictionary of National 
Biography" contains a notice of him. After speaking 
of what he had accomplished as "a devoted and dis- 



160 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

criminating collector," it goes on to say: — "The chief 
occupation of the last thirty years of his life was the 
accumulation of an extraordinary collection of auto- 
graphs and letters, perhaps never rivalled by any 
private person, no less remarkable for its extent than 
for its completeness and historical and literary interest. 
It contains every kind of epistolary document dealing 
with politics, administration, art, science, and litera- 
ture, ranging from the fifteenth to the nineteenth 
centuries, and especially relating to the public and 
private life of monarchs, statesmen, and other persons 
of mark of all European countries, particularly Great 
Britain, France, and Italy. Many of the manuscripts 
are of great importance. The correspondence between 
Nelson and Lady Hamilton was for the first time fully 
printed in his catalogue. The papers of Sir Richard 
Bulstrode, who died in 1711 at the age of 101, contain 
his news-letters, which may be looked upon as a com- 
panion to, and a continuation of, Pepys's 'Diary.' . . . 
He was a man of fastidious taste, of retiring disposition, 
and of wide information on the subjects in which he 
was interested." 

He printed for private distribution six sumptuous 
volumes, large 4to, with numerous facsimiles, in which 
a large part of his chief treasures are described; and, 
in addition, seven volumes, large 8vo. To say of these 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIOXS 161 

treasures that they are truly wonderful, and that they 
never could have been acquired by any one who did 
not couple persistent endeavor with the possession of 
immense wealth, is to speak entirely within bounds. 
If a great rarity appeared for sale anywhere in Europe, 
his order was to buy it, irrespective of price. And 
so there are here gathered together the gems of all the 
principal collections that have been dispersed since 
the year 1865. Xo great name that was obtainable is 
absent from this goodly company; many names of first 
importance are represented by from two to ninety 
letters, instead of the single letter or document with 
which most collectors would be fully satisfied; and 
here and there we rind a specimen that is unique in 
private hands. Add to all this the fact that the con- 
tents of very many of the letters are of historical im- 
portance; and we shall not hesitate to admit that this 
collection combines all the elements that contribute to 
make it one of surpassing excellence. It was left by 
Mr. Morrison to his wife, still living; by whose order it 
is to be dispersed. 

The first portion of the collection is described in a 
catalogue of 119 pages, embracing 771 items, issued by 
Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, the auctioneers. The 
sale took place on Monday, Dec. 10, 1917, and the four 
following days, and produced the sum of £12606.2.0. 



162 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The catalogue of the second portion — sold on 
Monday, April IS, 1918, and the four following days — 
is a pamphlet of 169 pages, naming 997 items, which 
produced a total of £15009.14.0. 

The larger part of the collection remains for sale 
hereafter. The prices realized for a few of the rarest 
and most valuable autographs disposed of at the two 
sales named will now be stated. 

Almagro, Don Diego de. Accompanied Pizarro and 
Cortez to America. Conquered Chili. A. L. S. 
2 pages folio. Peru, Jan. 1, 1535. To the Emperor 
Charles V. £76. 

Alva, Fernando, Duke of. The cruel Spanish general. 
A. L. S. 4 pages folio. 1567. £31. 

Ariosto, Lodovico. The great Italian poet. A. L. S. 

folio. Ferrara, June 6, 1519. £45. 
Artaignan, Comte d\ The original of Dumas' hero. 

A. L. S. 4 pages 4to. Dec. 24, 1658. To Cardinal 

Mazarin. £23. 
Borgia, Lucrezia. L. S. folio. Rome, Nov. 20, 1501. 

£64. 
Browne, Sir Thomas. Physician and author. A. L. S. 

folio. Jan. 21, 1659. To John Evelyn. £45. 
Buckingham, George Villiers, 1st Duke of. A. L. S. 

folio. 1626. To Cardinal Richelieu. £31. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIOXS 163 

Buonarotii, Michel Angelo. A. L. S. oblong 4to. 1545. 

£36. 
Cagliari, Paolo. Called Paolo Veronese. A. L. S. 

folio. Dec. 20, 1577. £31. 
Castiglione, Baldassare. Friend of Raphael. A. L. S. 

3 pages folio. Rome, 1521. £28. 
Catesby, Robert. The chief contriver of the Gunpowder 

Plot. A. L. S. H page folio. £26. 
Cervantes de Saavedra, Miguel. Author of Don Quixote. 

D. S. \V 2 pages folio, Feb. 4, 1593. £270. 
Charles I. A. L. S. folio. May 29, 1630. To Marie 

de Medicis. Announcing the birth of the future 

Charles II. £98. 
Charles I. A. L. S. 1} o pages folio. Cardiff, July 31, 

1645. To the Marquis of Ormond. Extremely 

important. £160. 
Colon, Don Diego. Eldest son of the great Columbus. 

D. S. 5 pages folio. To the Emperor Charles V. 

Historically important. £106. 
Cook, James. Celebrated navigator. A. L. S. 4to. 

1776. £36. 
Comeille, Pierre. The great French poet. A. L. S. 

1 J 2 pages 8 to. £135. 
Cromwell, Oliver. A. L. S. 2 pages folio. July 5, 1644. 

Important. £300. 



164 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Defoe, Daniel. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to. Signed with ini- 
tials. Edinburgh, Nov. 2, 1706. £155. 
Diane de Poitiers. Mistress of Henri II. A. L. S. 

folio. £46. 
Edward IV. King of England. D. S. folio. 1475. 

£32. 
Elizabeth. Queen of England. A. L. S. 2 pages folio. 

To King Henri IV. £150. 
Erasmus, Desiderius. A. L. S. 4)^ pages folio. May 

14, 1533. To Viglius Zuichen. £64. 
Francis I. A. L. S. folio. 1531. £21. 
Galilei, Galileo. The great astronomer. A. L. S. 3 

pages folio. June, 1627. £66. 
Gwynn, Eleanor. Mistress of Charles II. D. S. folio, 

1684. £27.10. 
Hawkins, Sir John. Naval commander. L. S. folio, 

1581. £23. 
Henry VII. King of England. L. S. folio, 1498. To 

the Duke of Milan. £28. 
Henry VIII. King of England. A. L. S. Yi page 

folio. In French. To Margaret of Austria. £80. 
Jordaens, Jakob. Flemish painter. A. L. S. 1^ pages 

folio. Antwerp, 1651. To Const antin Huygens. 

£28. 
Knox, John. Scottish reformer. A. L. S. in Latin. 

Edinburgh, Oct. 24, 1561. To Calvin. £220. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIOXS 165 

Las Casus, Fray Bartolome de. Bishop of Chiapa. Ac- 
companied Columbus on his first voyage. A. L. 
unsigned) 3 pages folio. 1520. £145. 

Le Sage, Alain Rene, Author of Gil Bias. A. L. S. 2 
pages 4to. £59. 

Luther, Mar:: n. A. D. S. folio. On vellum. A hom- 
ily on the 28th verse of the 11th chapter of St. Luke. 
£155. 

Malherbe, Francois de. French poet. A. L. S. 2 pages 
folio. 1606. £16. 

Marie Antoinette. Queen of France. A. L. S. 8vo. 
1791. To the Princesse de Lamballe. £78. 

Burns, Robert. Scottish poet. A. L. S. 3 pages folio. 
Dec. 13, 1789. To Miss Dunlop. An extraordinary 
letter. £220. 

Mary Stuart. Queen of Scotland. A. L. S. 23>9 pages 
folio. Sheffield, Dec. 3, 1581. To Henri III. £360. 

Melancthon, Philip. A. L. S. 3 pages folio. Witten- 
berg, March 3, 1554. To Duke Augustus of Saxony. 
£28^. 

Mozart, JVoljgang Amadeus. Composer. A. L. S. 4 

pages 4to. 1787. Interesting. £50. 
Napoleon I. A. L. S. }/ 2 page 4to. Paris. Sept. 6, 

1800. To Louis XVIII. £435. 
Napoleon I. A. L. S. 8vo. To Josephine. £150. 



166 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Orange, William the Silent, Prince of. A. L. S. folio. 

1573. £30. 
Rabelais, Francois. French wit and satirist. A. L. S. 

V/i pages folio. Rome, Jan. 28, 1537. £270. 
Racine, Jean. Tragic poet. A. L. S. 6J^ pages 4to. 

April 3, 1691. To Boileau. £54. 
Rembrandt van Rijn. Famous Dutch painter. A. L. 

S. \}/2 pages folio. Jan. 27, 1639. To Constantine 

Huygens. £180. 
Richard III. King of England. D. S. on vellum. 

June 10, 1484. A treaty with the Duke of Brittany. 

£64. 
Robespierre, Maximilien. A. L. S. 4to. Paris, Feb. 

15, 1793. To Danton. £64. 
Rubens, Sir P. P. Great Flemish painter. A. L. S. 

3 pages folio. Antwerp, Feb. 25, 1628. To M. 

Dupuy. £31. 
Saint Albans, Francis Bacon, Vpcount. A. L. S. J^ 

page folio. July 13, 1609. £54. 
Scarron, Paul. Comic poet. A. L. S. V/2 pages 4to. 

To Pelisson. £17.10. 
Siddons, Sarah. Famous actress. A. L. S. 7 pages 4to. 

Leeds, July 5, 1807. To James Ballantyne. £16.5.0. 
Sterne, Laurence. A. L. S. 4to. March 12, 1763. 

Respecting the sale of "Tristram Shandy." £21. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 167 

Swift, Jonathan. Noted English author. A. L. S. 3 
pages 4to. Nov. 10, 1709. To Lady Gifford. In- 
teresting. £35. 

Tasso, Torquato. Celebrated Italian poet. A. L. S. 3 
pages folio. Ferrara, June 21, 1575. £43. 

Vecelli, Tiziano. Called Titian. Famous painter. A. 
L. S. folio. Rome, Dec. 8, 1545. To the Emperor 
Charles V. £76. 

Vespucci, Emerico. The Florentine navigator who 
gave his name to America. A. L. S. (in Latin), Oct. 
18, 1476. 1 page oblong 4to. On vellum. [One 
of the two known specimens of his handwriting.] 
£390. 

Vinci, Leonardo da. Celebrated Italian painter. Two 
pen and ink sketches of machines, with autograph 
descriptions. 1 page folio. £110. 

Washington, George. A. L. S. 3J^ pages 4to. Sept. 
12, 1758. To Miss Fairfax. About his love for 
Mrs. Custis. £152. 

Wolfe, Gen. James. A. L. S. (initials). 3J^ pages 
folio. Louisburg, May 19, 1759. To his uncle, 
Major Walter Wolfe. Giving particulars of his 
position before the attack on Quebec. £62. 

Bonaparte, Letizia. Mother of Napoleon. A. L. S. }/£ 
page 4to. [March 23, 1801.] To her son Lucien. 
£21. 



168 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Burns, Robert. A. L. S. 6 pages 4to. Feb. 28, 1791. 

To Dr. John Moore. Enclosing a ballad of 22 lines 

on Queen Mary. £200. 
Byron, Lord. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to. June 25, 1809. 

To Rev. Francis Hodgson. Interesting. £32. 
Byron, Lord. Autograph verses, 3 pages 4to. Com- 
prising 13 stanzas, of 4 lines each, dated March 18, 

1816, of his famous poem 

Fare thee well! and, if for ever, 
Still, for ever, fare thee well. £320. 
Catherine de M edicts. Queen of France. A. L. S. % 

page folio. Dec. 20, 1583. To Mary, Queen of 

Scots. £300. 
Cellini, Benvenuto. Celebrated Italian Goldsmith. 2 

A. L. S. folio. To Francesco Ricci. £30. 
Charles V. Emperor of Germany. A. L. S. folio. To 

Francis I. Written in French. £32. 
Defoe, Daniel. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. May 29, 1711. 

£195. 
Dryden, John. Poet. A. L. S. J^ page 4to. Aug. 

5, 1699. £34. 
Edward IV. King of England. L. S. 3^2 P a S e oblong 

folio. To the Duke of Milan. £50. 
Edward VI. King of England. Royal sign manual 

to a warrant on paper. March 18, 1553. £35. 



EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS 169 

Elizabeth. Queen of England. A. L. S. (in French), 
2 pages folio. Sept., 1602. To King Henry IV. of 
France. £90. 

Falstaff, Sir John. Famous military commander, van- 
quished by Joan of Arc. D. S. on vellum, 1 page 
folio. Jan. 1, 1435 (1436). £27. 

Francis I. King of France. A. L. S. 1 page 4to, 1527. 
To the Emperor Charles V., assuring him of the de- 
votion of the writer. £38. 

Garrick, David. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to. London, Dec. 
3, 1773. Speaking of his appearance in the character 
of Hamlet. £42. 

Goldsmith, Oliver. A. L. S. 1 page 4to. To Garrick. 
£265. 

Keats, John. English poet. A. L. S. 234 pages 8vo. 
To Fanny Brawne. £100. 

La Fontaine, Jean de. Poet and Fabulist. A. L. S. 
2 pages 8vo, Sept. 2, 1683. To the Duchesse de 
Bouillon. £60. 

Mary, Queen of Scots. A. L. S. 2 pages folio. July 
11, 1568. To Philip II. of Spain. Fine and im- 
portant. £340. 



CHAPTER XL 

Concerning Collectors and Private Collections 
in the United States. 

PRIOR to 1850 there were few collectors of 
autographs in the United States, and their col- 
lections, with four exceptions — those of Robert 
Gilmor, I. K. Tefft, William B. Sprague, and 
Lewis J. Cist — were small and unimportant. In this 
category come the names of Prof. R. W. Gibbes [of 
Columbia, S. C], Benjamin B. Thatcher [author, of 
Boston], Thomas S. Grimke [philanthropist, of Charles- 
ton, S. C], Mrs. E. H. Allen [of Providence, R. I.], and 
Mellen Chamberlain [of Boston]. 

Between 1850 and 1860 this list was enlarged by 
the addition of the names of Dr. John S. H. Fogg 
[of Boston], Joseph J. Mickley [of Philadelphia], Dr. 
Thomas Addis Emmet [of New York], Robert C. Davis 
[of Philadelphia], Benj. Perley Poore [of Washington, 
D. C], Frank M. Etting [of Philadelphia], Brantz 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 171 

Mayer [of Baltimore], Ferdinand J. Dreer [of Phila- 
delphia], and Joshua J. Cohen [of Baltimore]. There- 
after it grew steadily. 

A few words will suffice to tell what is known of 
the general character and history of some of these col- 
lections. 

Robert Gilmor was a wealthy merchant of Balti- 
more, who became a devotee to art and accumulated 
a fine gallery of paintings. Somewhere about the year 
1825 he commenced the formation of a collection of 
autographs, and was thereafter a liberal buyer in 
European markets. In 1841 he printed, for private 
distribution, a catalogue of the foreign autographs in 
his possession, which contained many good, and some 
rare, names. The American portion of the collection 
was small. In 1851 — after the death of Mr. Gilmor — 
Ferdinand J. Dreer, of Philadelphia, purchased part 
of the collection, the remainder being sold piecemeal. 

The following rather curious, but interesting, ac- 
count of Mr. Gilmor's collection is given in a letter 
written by Benj. B. Thatcher [the well-known author, 
who was also a collector of autographs] to the New 
Orleans "Bulletin." 

Providence, R. I., June, 1835. 

I embrace my earliest leisure since writing you last 
to give you a sketch of one of the most remarkable 



172 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

curiosities which I have thus far met with. I mean the 
collection of autographs in the possession of Robert 
Gilmor, Esq., of Baltimore, a gentleman of taste and 
travel, and fortunately favored with the means of in- 
dulging the one, and availing himself, as heretofore he 
has done freely, of the benefit of the other. I had 
heard of his cabinet formerly, and, I believe, mentioned 
him to you in my description of Mr. Tefft's collection 
at Savannah, as standing at the head of his profession, 
so to speak, in this country, if not in the caste at large. 
He has not more of the passion, perhaps, than some 
others — and the number, by the way, is fast increas- 
ing — but more of the means of making the best of it, 
which he does. I venture to say it has been no rare 
thing for him to give, not five and ten dollars only for a 
precious rarity, but fifteen, twenty, thirty, and I dare 
say more than that — more than he would be willing 
to acknowledge. I am not aware that any other col- 
lector has adopted this system to any extent worthy of 
mention. It is common abroad; indeed the gratuitous 
system is getting fast out of use there; autographs are 
growing daily more and more articles of mere mer- 
chandise in the literary market; and begging has given 
place to buying, perhaps almost universally, with the 
exception of those cases where the individual is himself 
distinguished enough to accumulate a curious and 




ROBERT GILMOR 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 173 

recherche correspondence. . . . Mr. Gilmor's cabinet is 
not the most extensive in the United States, so far as 
quantity is concerned. That of the Rev. Mr. Sprague, 
at Albany, stands in that respect at the head of the 
list longo intervallo, being composed of 20,000 specimens 
at least. ... A very considerable portion of them, 
however, consists of the theological division. . . . Mr. 
Gilmor's is more general, though less voluminous, and 
it is also, autographically speaking, undoubtedly more 
valuable — admitted to be so by the worthy Dr. Sprague 
himself. It consists of about 20 large quarto hollow 
wooden volumes filled with loose letters, notes, royal 
decrees and proclamations, papal bulls, state papers, 
single signatures pasted upon white sheets, and all the 
other variety of documents commonly comprised in 
similar hoards, lying flat and neatly labelled with such 
memoranda as may be essential to preserve the record 
of their authenticity and whatever is of interest in their 
history or character at large. . . . My time being 
limited, I asked to be shown the poets, foreign — having 
a particular desire to look at Byron and some others, 
which are not very common even at this day; for Byron, 
especially, has come already, such is the search for him, 
to be decidedly a rara avis. In respect to him, partic- 
ularly, my host has been fortunate. He showed me, 
among other things, the identical letter of credit which 



174 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

he took with him — in 1829, I think it was — on starting 
for those travels which proved to be his last. . . . 
There was also one of his bills of exchange, and, if I 
mistake not, a letter or note to Cam Hobhouse, from 
Genoa, signed "Noel." Walter Scott of course is here, 
with the ordinary characteristic of a total want of 
punctuation of any sort. Then came a letter from 
Southey to Scott — how interesting you will easily con- 
ceive; long letters of Chapelain, Goldoni, Metastasio, 
Racine, and Malesherbes ; clusters of Cunningham, 
Joanna Baillie, Charles Dibdin, Barton, Montgomery, 
Watts, Hemans, Bowring, Crabbe, L. E. L., Moore, 
and I can't remember whom, all crowded together. 
... In many instances poems — sometimes original 
pieces, sometimes the celebrated — are preserved. There 
is a piece of Mrs. Barbauld, and another of Rogers; a 
broken fragment of Wordsworth ; and a verse or two of 
Horace Smith. . . . But what shall I say of an article 
from the pen of the immortal Alfieri himself, of the 
date of 1793. It were enough to set a genuine virtuoso 
a little frantic; and if I were one, and were compelled 
to choose a single specimen from this rich reservoir of 
rarities, alone, I confess I should be sadly at a loss 
whether to postpone this splendid treasure even for the 
primitive copy of that masterly effort of Campbell's, 
"What's hallowed ground" — for here it is, corrections 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 175 

and all. It makes my eyes water to think of it. I 
must breathe a while for a fresh foray in my memo- 
randa. Miss Edgeworth shines with this constellation, 
and the famous Berkeley and Sir Richard Steele, who 
has got to be decidedly rare and precious. Madame 
D'Arblay and the portly Dr. Parr hobble along to- 
gether; and Jeffrey goes arm in arm with Mrs. Graham, 
the historian; while Roscoe, Porson, Pinkerton, Gillies, 
Lamb, and Bryan W. Proctor bring up the rear. Then 
comes a procession of Bulwer, Lady Morgan, Hallam, 
Richard Cumberland, Godwin and Darwin, with a 
rabble rout of Holcroft, Arthur Young, Macklin, Mur- 
phy, Gifford, Hamilton, Shelley, and Sir John Shore. 
Two letters of Sir William Jones follow on. There is 
a power of attorney by Swift, a note of Addison's, the 
signature of Francis Bacon to an instrument of 1616; 
letters of Burke, Dugald Stewart, and Hearne; War- 
burton and Arbuthnot, side by side; Jeremy Bentham, 
alone in his glory; a knot of Italians, with Sismondi, 
Manzoni, Belzoni and Botta at their head; Hannah 
More; and how many others more I can't remember. 
I do remember, however, three of the bijoux of this vol- 
ume. One is a letter of Dillenius to Gronovius, I be- 
lieve in Latin; the second, of Pope to the novelist Rich- 
ardson; and the third, of the celebrated Sam Johnson 
to Bishop White, of Philadelphia, dated 1773, and giv- 



176 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

ing an account of Goldsmith's new comedy and a new 
edition of his own Dictionary. The Doctor wrote a 
back hand also, something like Beattie's. 

In the French literary chapter, among the rarities, 
is a letter of Rousseau to D'Alembert — a gem of course; 
Salmatius of 1687; a fragment of Tasso, in Latin, and 
of Vossius, 1648, in the same; Diderot, Volney, De 
Stael, Horian, and Beaumarchais; and the whole list 
of the pensioners of the Institute, from SO to 100 of 
them. There are the scientific savans on a similar 
pay-roll, the two first named of which, I think, are 
Lagrange and Laplace, and then Delambre, Lacroix, 
Lalande, Hauy, Lamarque, Cuvier, and so on. In 
this division are Michaux, Banks, Denon, Priestley, 
Davy, Bonpland, Humboldt, and Blumenbach. Kotz- 
ebue, Goethe, and Schlegel were there somewhere. 
Among the artists were notes of Chantry, Thorwaldsen 
and West, and something from Fuseli, Shea, Camuc- 
cini, Gerard, Morghen, Beechey, Madame Le Brun, 
Canova and Lawrence, and, what is still better, of 
Pietro Paulo Rubens, an inestimable treasure. Then 
there is a valuable dramatic collection, which I cannot 
detail, but Bannister and Pasta I remember among 
them, as well as Kean, all the Kembles, etc. In many 
cases there are signatures only, more than that having 
become introuvable. So it is with Walpole, Voltaire 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 177 

[very rare], and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. . . . The 
Bonaparte family, male and female, are all here, Letitia 
Mere included, and the son alone wanting. I looked 
at Maria Louisa with a strange interest, and especially 
when I saw it side by side with all the distingues of her 
day. I turned then to gaze upon the musty memorials 
of Queen Elizabeth; for there was her hand proper. 
There too was her august father, the Eighth Harry. 
There were Queen Anne, Leopold, a whole letter of 
Charles I., Boyer, Christophe, Iturbide, a letter of the 
great Charles V. of Spain to Magistrates [1522], his son 
Philip II. to the Duke of Alva, in French [1567], 
Capo DTstria, Saxe Weimar, and a host more. I con- 
fess that I valued Lafayette, with his wife and family, 
beyond them all. Every American will attach a still 
higher estimate to the Washington series, which of it- 
self forms the soul of a volume. This is rich indeed. 
It begins with the great man as a boy 13, and follows his 
writings down to his death. There is his ciphering at 
school, his surveying minutes, his journal as an orderly 
sergeant, his Braddock memoranda, his Revolutionary 
hand, and so to the end, showing the gradual settling 
down of the characters into that beautiful and char- 
acteristic writing now so generally known and admired. 
What a treasure is this; and there is a corresponding one 
in the autographs of the entire family of the Penns, 



178 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

from William to this day. . . . Here are files of Col- 
onial papers of every date, including Lord Baltimore's 
in abundance, and especially the original minute-book 
of the persons employed by Maryland and Pennsylvania 
in 1751 to survey the boundary between those States. 
. . . Mr. Gilmor has succeeded, with infinite pains, 
in getting together the autographs of all the Signers of 
the Declaration — that ne plus ultra of collectors — with 
the exception of a single one, Mr. Lynch. Mr. Sprague 
has outrun him in this field, for he has the whole, and 
so has Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool; and these are the only 
complete sets in the world. Mr. Gilmor will finish 
his, I cannot doubt. He could not lie still in his grave 
without it. But there would be no end to a detail like 
this. I will conclude with a curiosity of the first mag- 
nitude, such as autograph hunters, were they able, 
would give their weight in gold for. I do not refer to 
a letter of Sterne's to Dodsley, chaffering in vain to get 
£50 [I think] for Tristam Shandy. I mean a memo- 
randum in the writing of the notorious Dr. Dodd, being 
the original minutes furnished to the scrivener for the 
forged deed to Chesterfield, of £500, payable at 25 
years of age — for which he suffered the penalty of the 
law. The name of the gambler is not given; a signifi- 
cant blank stands in the place of it. In some depart- 
ments are deficiencies still. What would Mr. Gilmor 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 179 

give for a Columbus — such as never has been seen in 
America — or for a genuine Isabella! Gibbon is hard 
to be had, and so is Garrick. Grotius I never have met 
with anywhere. 

Mr.Gilmor is the owner, I may add, of the best 
private collection of paintings in this country. They 
cost him over 320,000." 

Frank M. Etting was a lawyer, of Philadelphia, 
and an historical student, who devoted himself assid- 
uously, from early manhood [circa 1852], to the col- 
lection of American autographs, particularly those of 
the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. He left his 
numerous and valuable manuscript possessions to the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Robert C. Davis was a Philadelphia pharmacist, 
whose antiquarian taste led him to gather, with avid- 
ity, Continental and Colonial paper money, coins, 
and autographs. Of the last named, he had an inter- 
esting collection, principally American, including a 
complete set of the Signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence; which was sold en bloc, after his death, to 
Charles Roberts, of Philadelphia. It, together with 
the additions which Mr. Roberts afterwards made to 
it, is now deposited in Roberts Hall, Haverford Col- 
lege; having been given to that institution by his 



180 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

widow. Mr. Davis was an exceptionally good judge 
of the genuineness of autographs, and his opinion in 
doubtful cases was often sought. 

The very valuable collection of Ferdinand J. 
Dreer, of Philadelphia, is described in a catalogue con- 
sisting of two large 4to volumes, which he printed for 
private distribution in 1890. Its formation was begun 
in 1848, and year by year it grew rapidly in size and 
importance. Being the fortunate possessor of large 
means, Mr. Dreer was never compelled to decline the 
purchase of a rarity on account of the price asked for 
it. Several years prior to his death he gave the entire 
collection to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
where it is now carefully preserved and greatly treas- 
ured. 

The splendid American collections formed by Dr. 
Thomas Addis Emmet, of New York, were purchased 
from him at a very large price — said to have been not 
less than ?200,000— by Mr. John S. Kennedy, a New 
York banker, in 1896; who then presented them to the 
New York Public Library. The several series of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence in this 
collection are, and must ever remain, unequaled. 
They contain the only known autograph letter of 
Thomas Lynch, Jun. 




THOMAS ADDIS EMMET, M. D. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 181 

The collection of Dr. John S. H. Fogg, of Boston, 
was a choice one. He became a cripple about the time 
he reached middle life, and turned his attention to 
autographs as a desirable diversion for a man deprived 
of physical activity. He was particularly interested 
in the series of Colonial Governors of Mass., Signers of 
the Declaration of Independence, and Generals of the 
Revolutionary War; and was successful in obtaining 
fine specimens of most of the names they embrace. 
The entire collection has, by his bequest, become the 
property of the Historical Society of Maine. 

Joseph J. Mickley, of Philadelphia, was a dealer in 
musical instruments, and for many years was an ardent 
collector of coins and autographs. After his death, in 
1878, the autographs belonging to his estate were sold 
at auction in Philadelphia. The catalogue enumerates 
a complete and fairly good set of the Signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, many desirable miscel- 
laneous American and foreign names, and a complete 
set of letters of the Presidents of the United States. 
In the last-named set there was a very remarkable 
A. L. S. 4to, of four pages, written by President Lin- 
coln to Gen. George B. McClellan on April 9, 1862, as- 
suring him of the President's kind feeling and full pur- 
pose to sustain him, and closing with the words "But 
you must act" 



182 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Brantz Mayer, the well known author who died in 
Baltimore, on March 21, 1879, left a small collection 
of letters, chiefly of the Revolutionary period, among 
which were a considerable number of the rarer Signers 
of the Declaration of Independence and Generals of the 
Revolutionary War. The best of them came from the 
Maryland State papers. After his death they were 
scattered; partly at private, partly at public, sale. 

The large collection formed by Major Ben Perley 
Poore, of Newburyport, Mass., and Washington, D. C, 
was disposed of at auction, in Boston, on Feb. 15-17, 
1888. The catalogue is a pamphlet of 153 pages, 
enumerating 2751 separate items, most of which are 
American. The Generals of the Civil War, both Union 
and Confederate, members of the Continental Congress, 
Presidents of the United States and their Cabinets, 
Signers of the Delcaration of Independence, and officers 
in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, were 
well represented. The sale produced 36500. 



The Tefft Collection. 

Israel K. Tefft, of Savannah, Ga., was probably 
the earliest American collector; his first acquisitions 
of autographs having been made as far back as 1815. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 183 

From this date, up to the time of his death in 1861, 
he was devoted to his hobby, and was successful in 
gathering an interesting collection, of moderate size, 
containing two complete sets of the Signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence; the better of which was sold by 
his widow to Mr. Almon W. Griswold, of New York, 
for the exceedingly small price of #500. The rest of 
the collection was disposed of at auction, in New York, 
in 1867. The catalogue is a pamphlet of 262 pages, 
enumerating 2630 items; of which 1794 are American, 
the rest foreign. Many of them include a number of 
names or specimens. It contains much good material, 
Colonial, Revolutionary, and of a later date, as well as 
a few good foreign names, coupled with a considerable 
quantity of what is closely akin to trash. The sale 
produced 37369. 

As indicative of the difference between the auction 
values of that day and of the present time, the following 
instances may be given : 

A complete set of the Signers of the Declaration of In- 
dependence sold at- 2625. 
Arnold, Gen. Benedict. A. L. S. 4to. 36. 
Cooper, J. Fenimore. A. L. S. 4to. 31.50. 
Eliot, John [Apostle of the Indians]. A. D. S. Y2 page 

folio. 33.50. 
Gadsden, Gen. Christopher. A. L. S. 4to, 1792. 32. 



184 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Gist, Gen. Mordecai. A. L. S. folio, 2 pages, 1781. 

31.50. 
Harrison, Robert H. [Supreme Court U. S.]. A. L. S. 

folio, 1780. 31.63. 
Holmes, Oliver Wendell. A. L. S. 4to. 75 cents. 
Irving, Washington. A. L. S. 4to, 2 pages, 1834. 33. 
Lafayette, General. A. L. S. 4to, 1778. 32.50. 
Payne, John Howard. A. L. S. 4to, 4 pages, 1835. 

31.25. 
Poe, Edgar A. A. L. S. 4to, 1836. 35. 
Poe, Edgar A. A. L. S. folio, 1840. 37. 
Jones, John Paul. A. L. S. folio, 1J^2 pages, 1777. 

314.50. 
Beethoven, Ludwig von (the composer). A. L. S. 4to. 

313. 
Dickens, Charles. A. L. S. 8vo, 2 pages, 1842. 32.50. 
Henry VII, King of England. D. S. folio. 34. 
Lamb, Charles. A. L. S. 4to. 314. 
Thackeray, William M. A. L. S. 8vo, 2 pages, 1856. 

33. 



The Sprague Collection. 

The Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague, who passed the 
greater part of his life as pastor of a Presbyterian Church 




- z. 



:a: : : 5??,ac-vi 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 185 

in Albany, N. Y., was not only the patriarch of Ameri- 
can collectors, but was acknowledged to be the owner 
of the largest and finest collection in the United States. 
Shortly after his graduation from college, he became a 
tutor in the family of Major Lewis, a nephew of Gen. 
Washington, who had in his possession the entire cor- 
respondence of the General. Young Sprague — then 
not more than twenty-two years of age — was allowed 
to select from this correspondence all the letters and 
papers he desired; and thus he obtained a great num- 
ber of military letters addressed to Washington by 
Generals and other officers in the Revolutionary War, 
as well as many that were written by other leading 
men between the years 1774 and 1799. Among the 
papers thus secured were specimens of Washington's 
handwriting from the age of twelve to that of seven- 
teen. In after years he was given the correspondence 
of Samuel Huntington, a Signer of the Declaration of 
Independence, and that of Thomas Rodney, of Del., 
and Jedediah Morse; and was also the recipient of a 
large part of the papers of President Monroe, Aaron 
Burr, and Sir William Johnson. From these and 
other sources he obtained an abundance of material 
available for exchanges with American and European 
collectors. Owing to his prominence in the Presby- 
terian Church, many clergymen of that denomina- 



186 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

tion, both in the United States and Great Britain, 
interested themselves in securing desirable contribu- 
tions to his treasures. At the time of his death, in 
1876, the collection numbered upwards of 90,000 
items, of which at least one-third were letters or docu- 
ments of men and women of prominence. Most of the 
American series were complete, and a majority of the 
names in them were represented by numerous speci- 
mens. The European letters included many rarities 
and numbered not less than 5000. Five years after 
his death the collection was sold en bloc, and still re- 
mains intact in the hands of its purchaser. 

The Cist Collection. 

Lewis J. Cist, who became widely known as an en- 
thusiastic collector of autographs, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania on November 20, 1818, and died in Cincinnati 
on March 30, 1885. He commenced his collection 
when he was seventeen or eighteen years of age; and 
thereafter devoted himself, most energetically, to the 
acquisition of letters or documents of notable persons 
of all nationalities and periods. His life was spent, 
partly in St. Louis and partly in Cincinnati, as teller 
in a bank. His pecuniary resources were not large; 
but a little money went a long way in securing auto- 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 187 

graphs in England, France and Germany — partic- 
ularly the latter country — during the years dating 
from 1836 to 1860. By dint of great industry and very 
numerous exchanges with other collectors, he succeeded 
in forming a collection which, at the time of his death, 
ranked second only to that of Dr. Sprague. It was 
sold at auction, in New York, in four parts; the first 
sale taking place in October, 1886, and the last in May, 
1887. The catalogues of these four sales described 
11,624 items, which realized about 318,000. The 
American portion was quite complete in all the principal 
series; and included sets of the Signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence [elsewhere spoken of in detail], 
the Federal Convention, Generals of the Revolutionary- 
War, Presidents, and a specially large and important 
gathering of the Colonial Governors. Many of the 
latter — including a fine A. L. S. folio of Roger Williams 
and others of equal rarity — came from the Winthrop 
papers, and were given to Mr. Cist by Hon. Robert C. 
Winthrop in return [as he himself told a brother col- 
lector] for a letter of President William H. Harrison 
which Mr. Winthrop desired as a present for a friend. 
The manuscript autograph poems by the most noted 
American poets were remarkable both in point of num- 
ber and importance. The foreign portion of the col- 
lection was quite equal to the American. It covered a 



188 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

large field and, among many fine and desirable speci- 
mens, contained a complete set of letters of Napoleon 
and his Marshals, and a large number of letters of the 
leading characters in the Thirty Years' War. 

Specific mention may be made of the following 
items : 
Allen, Col. Ethan. Fine military A. L. S. folio, 1781. 

320. 
Williams, Roger [founder of R. I.]. A. L. S. folio, 1637. 

3107.50. 
Stuyvesant, Peter [Governor of N. Y.]. A. L. S. folio, 

1664. 281. 
Andros, Sir Edmund [Governor of N. Y.]. A. L. S. 

folio, 1675. 331. 
Penn, William. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1685. $50. 
Lessing, Gotthold Eph. [Great German author]. A. L. 

S. 4to, 1775. 318. 
Schiller, Friedrich von [Great poet]. A. L. S. 4 pages 

4to. 225. 
Korner, Karl Theodor [Celebrated poet]. A. L. S. 3 

pages 4to. 37. 
Garrick, David [Actor]. A. L. S. 8vo. 31 1. 
Abington, Frances [Actress]. A. L. S. 4to. 35.25. 
Jordan, Dora [Actress]. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. 33.25. 
Melancthon, Philip [friend of Luther]. A. L. S. 2 pages 

folio. 340. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 189 

Aquila, Caspar [friend of Luther]. A. L. S. 4to, 1551. 

sis. 

Richardson, Samuel [Novelist]. A. L. 5. 2 pages 4to, 

1753. 322. 
Haydn, Joseph [Composer of Music]. A. L. S. 4to, 

1300. S27. 
Mozart, Wolfgang A made us. A. L. S. 4to. $69. 
Beethoven, Ludzvig von. A. L. S. 4 to. 327. 
Schubert, Franz [Composer]. A. L. S. 4to. 1828. 317. 
Congreve. William, [Dramatist:. A. D. S. folio. 1718. 

36. 
Southerns, Thomas [Dramatist;. A. L. 8. 8vo. 34.25. 
Medici, Catherine de [Queen of France]. A. L. S. folio. 

318. 
Napoleon Bonaparte. L. 8. 4to, 1804. Relative to his 

coronation as Emperor. S15.50. 
Cowper, William [Poet]. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1792. 

S15. 
Keats, John [Poet]. A. L. 5. 5 pages 4to, 1820. 322. 
Pope, Alexander [Poet;. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1720. 

352. 
Shelley, Percy B. [Poet]. A. L. S. 4to, 1317. $42. 
Mary, Queen of Scc:s. L. 5. folio, 1559. 352. 
Elizabeth [Queen of England]. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1591. 

S52. 



190 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Washington, George. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 1779. To 

Col. John Laurens. $32. 
Jackson, Andrew. A. L. S. 4to, 1841. 33.75. 
Taylor, Zachary. A. L. S. 4to, 1848. $13.50. 
Lincoln, Abraham. A. L. S. 4to, 1849. $27.50. 
Putnam, Gen. Israel. L. S. 4to, 1776. $9.50. 
Kalb, John, Baron de [General]. A. L. S. folio, 1777. 

$21. 
Conway, Gen. Thomas. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1778. 

$75. 
Jones, John Paul. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1780. $34. 

The Leffingwell Collection. 

The months of January and March, 1891, witnessed 
the dispersal at auction, in Boston, of the splendid 
collection formed by Prof. E. H. Leffingwell, of New 
Haven. He commenced his autographic pursuits when 
he was quite a young man, and was, with Dr. Sprague 
and Messrs. Tefft and Cist, one of the small coterie of 
noted early American collectors. During the course 
of a long life, he was a liberal and constant purchaser 
from dealers, both American and European, and at 
auction sales. 

The catalogues of his collection number, respec- 
tively, 331 pages, enumerating 3335 items, and 357 pages, 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 191 

enumerating 3315 items; very many of which include a 
considerable number of autographs. The collection 
was much larger and more important than that of Mr. 
Cist, and was unquestionably the finest that had ever 
been sold at auction in the United States; producing 
over 351,000, and showing a great advance in values 
within the few years that had elapsed since the Cist 
sale. It comprised not only the series of Colonial 
Governors, Albany Convention, Stamp Act Congress, 
Annapolis Convention, Constitutional Convention, 
Signers of the Articles of Confederation, Members of 
the Continental Congress, Generals and officers of the 
Revolutionary War, and Presidents of the United States, 
but also many foreign Sovereigns, and a great number of 
foreign autographs, English, French, and German. Its 
most notable portion was its complete set of the Signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, classed as fourth in 
rank among the twenty-two complete sets then known; 
which realized 310,350, a price regarded at the time as 
enormous. There was also a second set, lacking 
Lynch and Gwinnett only. 

Amidst such a wealth of material it will be mani- 
festly impossible to note more than a few items. 
Boone, Daniel [Pioneer]. A. L. S. folio, 1809. 335. 
Braddock, Gen. Edward. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1755. 347. 
Byron, Lord [Poet]. A. L. S. 4 pages, 4to 1819. 385. 



192 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Danforth, Thomas [Deputy Governor of Mass.]. D. S. 

4to, 1673. 335. 
Davenport, Rev. John [Founder of New Haven Colony]. 

A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1650. 381. 
Eliot, Rev. John [Missionary to the Indians]. A. L. S. 

2 pages folio, 1673. 3500. 
Mary, Queen of Scots. D. S. folio, 1559. 390. 
Paul I. [Emperor of Russia]. A. L. S. 4to, 1779. 321. 
Garrick, David [Actor]. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. 342. 
Perm, William. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 1708. 3105. 
Williams, Roger [founder of Rhode Island]. A. L. S. 2 

pages folio, 1656. 3310. 
Dunster, Henry [President of Harvard]. A. L. S. folio, 

1655. 356. 
Jones, John Paul. A. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1782. 

3107.50. 
Knyphausen, Baron [Commanded the Hessian troops 

in the Revolutionary War]. L. S. folio, 1780. 340. 
McNeill, Hector [Captain in the Continental Navy]. 

A. L. S. folio, 1785. 320. 
Endecott, John [Governor of Mass.]. A. L. S. 4to, 1659. 

360. 
Dudley, Thomas [Governor of Mass.]. A. L. S. 4to, 

1649. 3110. 
Mather, Rev. Cotton. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1692. 3101. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 193 

Munson, Capt. William. A. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1780. 

Giving an account of the execution of Major Andre. 

3450. 
Newton, Sir Isaac. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1719. 3325. 
Poe, Edgar A. A. L. S. 4to, with an autograph poem 

signed. 3255. 
Revere, Paul. A. L. S. [9 lines], 1779. 340. 
Andre, Major John. A. L. S. folio, 1780. 3700. 
Kalb, Baron de [General in the Revolution a ry War]. A. 

L. S. 2 pages folio, 1777. 377.50. 
Hale, Captain Nathan [the Martyr Spy]. A. L. S. folio, 

1775. 31275. 
Harrison, Col. Robert H. [Aide to Gen. Washington]. 

A. L. S. folio, 1779. 350. 
Lee, Gen. Charles [Revolutionary War]. A. L. S. 2 

pages 4to, 1776. 3175. 
Lewis, Gen. Andrew [Revolutionary War]. A. L. S. 4to, 

1779. 3121. 
Moore, Gen. James [Revolutionary War]. L. S. 2 pages 

folio, 1777. 3168. 
Nash, Gen. Francis [Revolutionary War]. A. D. S. 

folio, 1765. 370. 
Pomeroy, Gen. Seth [Revolutionary War]. A. L. S. 4to, 

1773. 3100. 
Scammel, Col. Alexander. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1780. 

Giving an account of Arnold's treason. 3425. 



194 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Spencer, Gen. Joseph [Revolutionary War]. A. L. S. 

4to, 1776. $66. 
Warren, Gen. Joseph. L. S. folio, 1775. To Benj. 

Franklin. 2225. 

Wayne, Gen. Anthony. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1781. 
To Gen. Washington, on the mutiny of the Pennsyl- 
vania Line. $150. 

Woodford, Gen. Wm. [Revolutionary War]. A. L. S. 
folio, 1778. £80. 

Bartlett, Josiah [Signer]. A. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1776. 
3240. 

Hall, Lyman [Signer]. A. L. S. 4 pages folio, 1777. 

Giving an account of the duel in which Gwinnett was 

killed. 31775. 
Hancock, John [Signer]. A. L. S. folio, 1776. 3380. 
Heyward, Thomas, Jr. [Signer]. A. L. S. 4to, 1780. 

3450. 
Livingston, Philip [Signer]. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1776. 

3325. 
Lincoln, Abraham. A. L. S. folio, 1840. 390. 
Johnson, Andrew. A. L. S. 4to, 1853. 380. 

Washington, Gen. George. L. S. 4 pages folio, 1782. 
3100. 

Wolfe, Gen. James. A. L. S. 4to, 1752. 3105. 




CHARLES C. [OXES 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 195 

The Charles C. Jones Collection. 

Col. Charles C. Jones — born in Savannah, Ga., in 
1831 — was an officer of artillery in the Confederate 
Army during the Civil War who, after peace was de- 
clared, devoted his attention largely to historical pur- 
suits. In 1866 he commenced the formation of a 
series of autograph letters of all the Confederate 
generals; which he succeeded in completing, after a 
large correspondence, during a number of years, with 
surviving Southern officers. The taste for collecting 
autographs, thus acquired, grew upon him; and he began 
a diligent search for letters of Colonial and Revolu- 
tionary characters of his native State, not alone for the 
purpose of placing them in his own portfolios, but also 
because they might furnish material for a full history 
of Georgia, which he had determined to write, and which 
was completed and published several years before his 
death. His enthusiastic efforts in this field, during 
a period of twenty-five years, were rewarded by the 
acquisition of a collection which embraced two complete 
sets of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
a set [nearly complete] of the Members of the Contin- 
ental Congress, the Presidents of the United States, 
Generals and officers in the Revolutionary War, and a 
number of miscellaneous American and foreign names. 



196 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

After his death, in 1893, the more valuable part of 
the collection was disposed of at private sale; the best 
set of the Signers going to Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, of 
New York, and the nearly complete series of Members 
of the Continental Congress, which included letters of 
most of the Signers of the Declaration, passing into the 
hands of a collector in Boston. 

The remainder of the collection was sold at auction, 
in Philadelphia, on April 24-26, 1894. The prices 
obtained were very reasonable, and showed a great 
falling off from the high figures of the Leffingwell sale. 
An autograph signature ["Lynch"] of Thomas Lynch, 
Jr., cut from one of his books, went for 330, and a 
D. S. folio [mortgage] of Button Gwinnett for #320. 
Two folio letters signed of Gen. Washington, written 
in 1789 to George Walton, sold for 316 each. 

The Cohen Collection. 

The collection of Dr. Joshua J. Cohen, of Baltimore, 
came under the auctioneer's hammer, in Philadelphia, 
on Nov. 12 and 13, 1907. Dr. Cohen commenced its 
formation some time between the years 1840 and 1850, 
and continued to add to it until the close of his life. 
It was almost exclusively American; and contained a 
number of letters of Gen. Washington and his family, a 








ELLIOT DAXFORTH 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 197 

complete set of the Signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, many members of the Continental Congress, 
Generals and officers of the Revolutionary War, Presi- 
dents and their Cabinets, Naval officers, Governors of 
Maryland [from Colonial days], and miscellaneous 
items. The sale realized 34300; most of the autographs 
going at very moderate prices. 

The Danforth Collection. 

In point of size the collection of Elliot Danforth 
greatly outdistanced any that had previously been dis- 
persed at auction; and its importance, in the American 
series, was at least equal to that of the Leffingwell 
collection. Mr. Danforth was born in New York on 
March 6, 1850, and died there on Jan. 7, 1906. He was 
a lawyer by profession, but devoted most of his time to 
politics, and was chosen Treasurer of the State of New 
York, an office which he held for two terms. While in 
this position he had the opportunity of examining, 
and making selections from, the immense correspon- 
dence of the Adjutant General of New York during 
the Civil War; whereby he came into possession of a 
great number of letters of Union generals. His success 
in this particular field led him to extend his attention 
to all classes of American autographs; and in the course 



198 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

of a comparatively few years he amassed, by the ac- 
quisition of large numbers of public papers, as well as 
by exchanges with other collectors and liberal pur- 
chases, the immense collection which, after his death, 
was sold at auction, in Philadelphia, on various dates 
in the years 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914. 

Owing to its great size, it was disposed of in seven 
parts. The catalogues included, among the American 
series, Colonial Governors, the Albany Convention of 
1754, the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, the Continental 
Congress [with many fine letters of Signers of the Dec- 
laration of Independence], Generals and officers of the 
Revolutionary War, Presidents of the United States, the 
Supreme Court of the U. S., the first Federal Congress, 
and authors. They also contained very notable sets 
of the Generals of the Civil War [both Union and Con- 
federate], the Peace Congress of 1861, and of all prom- 
inent persons connected with the Southern Confeder- 
acy; as well as a very large number of autograph doc- 
uments of Abraham Lincoln, and many miscellaneous 
autographs [American and foreign]. The set of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, which 
attracted more attention than any other part of the 
collection, is elsewhere particularly noticed. The price 
— 34600— paid for the D. S. 2 pages folio, 1770, of 
Button Gwinnett, was the highest ever given for an 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 199 

autograph in an American auction room. 

The following items may be mentioned as typical 
of the most valuable letters in the collection: 

Christie, Gen. Gabriel [French and Indian War], A. L. 
S. 3 pages 4to, 1757. Interesting. 3115. 

Gage, Gen. Thomas. A. L. S. 4 pages folio, 1765. In- 
teresting. 3100. 

Greene, Gen. Nathanael. A. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1781. 
To Gen. Lafayette. 3191. 

Montgomery, Gen. Richard. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1775. 
Military letter. 3560. 

Paine, Thomas [Patriot]. A. L. S. folio, 1783. To 
Robert Morris. 3125. 

Penn, Thomas [Colonial Governor of Pa.]. A. L. S. 7 
pages 4to, 1758. 3105. 

Washington, George. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 1785. To 
James Madison. 3590. 

Franklin, Benjamin. A. L. S. folio, 1772. To his 
wife. 3140. 

Grant, Gen. U. S. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to. Headquarters, 
Jan. 8, 1865. 3220. 

Lincoln, Abraham. A. L. S. 3 pages 8vo, 1861. To 
Gov. Magoffin, of Ky. 3975. 

Washington, George. L. S. 3 pages folio, 1782. An im- 
portant letter to Gen. Greene. 3300. 



200 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Washington, Martha, A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1794. 3780. 
Lincoln, Abraham. A. L. S. 4to, 1841. 3137.50. 
Pynchon, Col. John [Governor of Springfield, Mass.]. 

A. D. S. 4to, 1656. 3360. 
Herkimer, Gen. Nicholas [Revolutionary War]. L. S. 

4to, 1775. 3150. 
Moore, Alfred [Supreme Court of the U. S.]. A. L. S. 

2 pages 4to, 1800. 3210. 
Blair, John [Supreme Court of the U. S.]. A. L. S. 

4to, 1781. 3200. 
Eliot, John [Missionary to the Indians]. A. D. S. 

small 4to, 1665. 3330. 
Alden, John [Plymouth pilgrim]. D. S. folio, 1663. 

3190. 

The Hale Collection. 

John Mills Hale, of Philipsburg, Pa., devoted more 
than fifty years of his life to the formation of a col- 
lection of autographs composed of nearly all of the 
American series and a large number of foreign letters. 
It was sold at auction, in Philadelphia, on Feb. 14 and 
15, and June 3, 1913. The catalogues of the two sales 
enumerated 2466 items, many of which embraced a 
number of autographs. His complete set of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence was be- 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 201 

queathed to the University of Pennsylvania; but an- 
other set, nearly complete, was included in his series 
of the Members of the Continental Congress. 

Among the more noteworthy items, the following 
may be mentioned : 

Arnold, Gen, Benedict. L. S. 4 pages 4to, 1778. Im- 
portant military letter. 3260. 
Burgoyne, Gen. Sir John. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1777. 

$150. 
Greene, Gen. Nathanael. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1777. 

365. 
Hale, Capt. Nathan [the Martyr Spy]. A. L. S. 2 pages 

4to, 1775. $1500. 
Kosciuszko, Gen. Thaddeus. A. L. S. 4 pages 4to. 

Revolutionary letter. $235. 
Mercer, Gen. Hugh. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1776. $172. 
Montgomery, Gen. Richard. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. 

Camp, St. Johns, 1775. $280. 
Putnam, Gen. Israel. L. S. 4to, 1776. $100. 
Revere, Paul. A. L. S. 4to, 1791. $95. 
Scammel, Col. Alexander. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1779. 

$50. 
Warren, Gen. Joseph. A. L. S. 4to, 1775. $212.50. 
Jones, John Paul. A. L. S. 4to, 1777. $400. 
Lynch, Thomas, Jr. Signature "Lynch" cut from the 

title page of a book. $175. 



202 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Morton, John [Signer]. D. S. 4to, 1776. 324. 
Taylor, George [Signer]. D. S. folio. 352. 
Livingston, William [Governor of N. J.]. A. L. S. 

folio, 1777. 338. 
Washington, George. A. L. S. 4to, 1785. 2320. 
Adams, John. A. L. S. 3 pages 4to, 1785. 380. 
Lincoln, Abraham. A. L. S. 2 pages 8vo, 1860. In 

reference to his nomination. 3900. 
Chase, Samuel [Signer]. A. L. S. 3 pages folio. 3130. 
Boone, Daniel [Pioneer]. A. D. S. folio, 1786. 343. 
Burns, Robert [Poet]. A. L. S. 8vo. 380. 
Byron, Lord [Poet]. A. L. S. 8vo, 1815. 355. 
Lafayette, General. A. L. S. 4to. Valley Forge, 1778. 

3160. 
Washington, Martha. A. L. S. 4to. 3650. 
Henry VIII [King of England]. Vellum D. S. folio, 

1540. 3170. 

The Thacher Collection. 

John Boyd Thacher, of Albany, N. Y., was known, 
for many years prior to his death, as one of the leading 
collectors in the United States. He was a scholar, and 
the author of several valuable works on the early his- 
tory of America. His antiquarian taste led him, in 
early life, to commence the acquisition of interesting 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 203 

letters and manuscripts; particularly such as fell 
directly within the line of his historical pursuits. Hav- 
ing large pecuniary resources, the steady prosecution of 
his hobby for more than forty years enabled him to 
accumulate a very large, and remarkably fine and val- 
uable collection of letters, foreign as well as American; 
in which rarities were of frequent occurrence. His 
favorite foreign series was that of the French Revolu- 
tion; which [it is said] he had so fully completed as to 
make it unrivaled in the United States and without a 
superior abroad. 

The collection — excluding the French Revolution 
series — was sold at auction, in six parts, during the 
years 1913, 1914 and 1915. A tolerably correct idea 
of its character and extent may be had from the fol- 
lowing general statement of the various elements com- 
prised in it: 

1. Dutch Governors of New Netherlands. Peter Min- 

uit, Wm. Kieft, Pieter Stuyvesant, Wouter van 
Twiller. 

2. Early New England and Massachusetts Bay. 

William Bradford, John Alden, Myles Standish, 
Roger Williams, and many others. 

3. Colonial Governors. Henry Sloughter, Sir E. An- 

dros, Leisler, Francis Lovelace, William Penn, 
and many others. 



204 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

4. Early Governors and explorers of New France. 

Frontenac, D'Iberville, Joliet, La Salle, and 
others. 

5. Famous early celebrities and divines. 

6. Stamp Act and Continental Congresses. 

7. Revolutionary celebrities. John Paul Jones, Major 

Andre, Nathan Hale, George and Martha Wash- 
ington, Joseph Warren, and many others. 

8. Literary and historical celebrities. 

9. Signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

10. Presidents of the U. S. 

11. Miscellaneous. Saint Vincent de Paul, Ignatius 

Loyola, Francis de Sales, and others. 

12. English statesmen, from Henry VIII. to Charles 

II. 

13. English authors. Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Thos. 

Browne, Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Gray, Ben 
Jonson, John Keats, John Locke, Thomas Chat- 
terton, Robert Burton, De Foe, Dryden, Byron, 
Burns, and many others. 

14. European celebrities. 

15. Composers. Bach, Beethoven, Gluck, Handel, 

Haydn, Mozart, and others. 

16. Celebrated women. Lucretia Borgia, Bianca Ca- 

pello, Madame de Maintenon, and others. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 205 

17. English artists. Gainsborough, Hogarth, Kneller, 
and others. 



The Joline Collection. 

Of all the American collectors of autographs who 
were living in 1913, few were as well known as Adrien 
H. Joline. He was a lawyer, residing in New York City; 
and during the larger part of his long, active and useful 
life he devoted the hours that could be spared from his 
professional pursuits to the collection of books and auto- 
graphs. His large scholarship, his ability as a writer, 
and his love for his hobby are shown in the numerous 
works that came from his pen; among which his 
"Meditations of an Autograph Collector" and "Rambles 
in Autograph Land" are charming specimens of the 
way in which a subject, somewhat dry to those who do 
not belong to the fraternity of collectors, can be made 
interesting to the general reader. They have been 
aptly described as "characterized by humor, philos- 
ophy, shrewd observations of men and events, deep 
insight into political history and social life, strong 
human sympathy, and an intimate knowledge of the 
best literature." 

The years that he gave to the acquisition of his 
treasures made him, at the time of his death, the pos- 



206 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

sessor of one of the largest and finest collections ever 
formed in the United States. It was disposed of at 
auction, in New York, in nine instalments, at various 
dates between Dec. IS, 1914, and Feb. 24, 1916. 

In addition to a large number of books that were 
extra-illustrated by the insertion of many letters and 
portraits — some of them containing such complete 
series as those of the Presidents of the U. S. and the 
Justices of the Supreme Court of the U. S. — the col- 
lection covered so wide a field, both American and 
foreign, that any detailed statement of its component 
parts would be out of the question. All that can be 
said is that it included, in the American line, a complete 
set of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
fine letters of most of the Generals and more prominent 
officers of the Revolutionary War, many letters of Gen. 
Washington, a number of fine literary manuscripts of 
the most noted authors, etc., etc. In the foreign line, 
sovereigns, military and naval officers, authors, states- 
men, noted women, and Napoleon and his Marshals, 
were represented by most of the leading names. 

A few items, selected from a large number that are 
of equal importance, will now be specifically noted, 
to give some indication of the prices realized: 
Arnold, Gen. Benedict. A. L. S. 2 pages folio, 1780. 
3140. 



AMERICAN COLLECTIONS 207 

Washington, George. A. L. S. 4to, 1796. 2112.50. 
Washington, Martha. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 1782. £159. 
Stuyvesant, Peter. D. S. large 4to, 1664. 3140. 
/Vnn, William. A. L. S. folio, 1682. 3235. 
Bacon, Sir Francis [Baron Verulam. Lord Chancellor]. 

D. S. folio, 1619. 3165. 
Elizabeth [Queen of England]. Vellum L. S. oblong 

folio. 3110. 
Garrick, David [Actor]. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to. 3105. 
Goldsmith, Oliver. D. S. large folio. 3385. 
Hogarth, William. D. S. folio, 1775. 363. 
Lamb, Charles and Mary. A. L. S. 23^2 pages 4to, 1811. 

3315. 
Napoleon Bonaparte. L. S. 4to, 1812. To Marshall 

Grouchy. 3155. 
Richardson, Samuel [Novelist]. A. L. S. 3 pages small 

4to, 1753. 380. 
Sterne, Laurence [Novelist]. A. L. S. 2 pages 4to, 

1764. 3125. 
Thackeray, William M. A. L. S. 3 pages 12 mo., 1857. 

3126. 
Gibber, Colley [Actor]. A. L. S. 4to, 1753. 345. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Concerning Public Collections of Autographs. 
I. EUROPEAN. 

IN France the Bibliotheque Nationale of Paris has, 
probably, the largest number of autographs of 
first importance. Its manuscript department con- 
tains many notable collections formed in centuries 
past by distinguished public or private characters for 
historical purposes, which passed to the Bibliotheque 
either by gift or purchase. In the Mazarine gallery 
of this institution one may see displayed letters or 
manuscripts of nearly all the names that are noted in 
French history, beginning with a document bearing 
the signature of John II., surnamed "Le Bon," who 
ascended the French throne in 1350, and coming down 
to modern times. Here are to be found such rarities 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 209 

as the autographs of Charles V., Bertrand Du Guesclin, 
Agnes Sorel, Montaigne, Pierre Corneille, Moliere, and 
Jean de la Bruyere; as well as the autograph manu- 
scripts of Blaise Pascal's "Pensees," La Fontaine's 
tragedy of "Achille," Fenelon's "Telemaque," and 
others of great value. 

The National Archives contain, as a matter of 
course, a wealth of autographic material, in which all the 
kings of France are represented by charts or letters . The 
oldest of these autographs is a signature of king Dago- 
bert I. on a diploma of the year 628. A handsome 4to 
volume, published in 1872 under the title of "Musee 
des Archives Nationales," and illustrated with numerous 
facsimiles, gives a detailed statement of the autographs 
and manuscripts in this collection. 

Several of the public libraries in Paris, and many 
of those in other parts of France, also have consider- 
able collections. 

The other countries of Continental Europe have, 
in addition to their collections of State papers, large 
gatherings of autographs in their public libraries. 
The library of Berlin is particularly rich in such pos- 
sessions. 

In Italy, the archives of Rome, Milan, Florence, 
Venice, Turin and Naples are full of autographs, as are 
the archives of Simancas in Spain. 



210 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The libraries of Holland, Belgium and Switzerland 
are not without a considerable quantity of precious 
manuscript matter. 

In England, the great depository of autographs is 
the British Museum, in London. Its possessions in 
this line are unequaled except, perhaps, by the Biblio- 
theque Nationale. In addition to the magnificent 
collections of Sir John Cotton, Sir Hans Sloane, Robert 
Harley [Earl of Oxford], the Marquis of Lansdowne and 
Lord Egerton, which were acquired by gift, it has, for 
hundreds of years, added to its treasures by the pur- 
chase of letters or documents of all important persons 
whose autographs were lacking; so that there is scarcely 
a single name of prominence, of any nationality or any 
modern time, which is not now represented in its man- 
uscript department. 

The National Archives in the Public Record office 
are, as will naturally be taken for granted, of great 
size and importance. 



II. AMERICAN. 

The American Antiquarian Society. 

The American Antiquarian Society, located at Wor- 
cester, Mass., was founded by Isaiah Thomas, noted as 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 211 

a printer and publisher, and as the author of a "History 
of Printing." Incorporated on Oct. 24, 1812, it has 
been wonderfully successful in its acquisitions of books, 
newspapers and manuscripts; and it now ranks as one 
of the great libraries of the country for students of 
American history and allied subjects. The Society's 
"Handbook of Information" states that "from a few 
groups of manuscripts, chiefly of a local or personal 
character, there has succeeded a collection of over 
35,000 pieces, largely national in its scope." 

Cotton Mather is represented by nearly 300 letters; 
and there are many, and important, manuscripts by 
him and by Richard and Increase Mather. There is 
much material illustrative of the French and Indian 
War, and a very extensive collection relating to the 
Revolutionary War. Included in the latter are numer- 
ous military papers of Generals John Nixon and Wil- 
liam Heath, and letters of Generals Washington, Greene, 
Schuyler, Stirling, Gates, Conway, Charles Lee and 
Arnold. One of the most interesting manuscripts in 
the collection is the reply of the garrison at West Point 
to Washington's farewell address, Nov. 10, 1783. 

There are letters of Signers of the Declaration of 
Independence and of men who were noted in the Con- 
tinental Congress, and thousands of miscellaneous 
letters and manuscripts of a later date. 



212 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The Library of Congress. 

The character and extent of the manuscript collec- 
tions of the Library of Congress are briefly stated in a 
leaflet which has been issued for the information of the 
public, from which the following quotations are made: 
"The Library is the custodian of about 600 separate 
collections of manuscripts, varying in size from col- 
lections which comprise only a few documents to those 
which contain many thousands. There are at least 
a million separate manuscripts in the combined col- 
lections. They cover the whole field of history — 
political, military, scientific, artistic, religious, literary, 
social, and economic. For example, there are the 
papers of eleven of the Presidents of the United States ; 
of the Continental Congress; of Benjamin Franklin, 
Alexander Hamilton, Daniel Webster, William L. 
Marcy, James H. Hammond (of S. C), and Edwin M. 
Stanton; of Generals Sherman, McClellan, and Beaure- 
gard; of Paul Jones, Alexander Cockburn, and Ericsson; 
of Simon Newcomb and Matthew F. Maury; of Rev. 
John Witherspoon and Rev. Moses Waddell; of Louise 
Chandler Moulton and William Gilmore Simms; of 
Dolly Madison and Margaret Bayard Smith; and the 
account books of plantations and old mercantile firms. 
. . . The collections have come to the Library, some 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 213 

by transfer from other Departments of the Govern- 
ment, but most of them from the descendants of the 
historical characters to whom the manuscripts pertain. 
Some of the collections are obtained by gift, some by 
purchase, and some are deposited, the title remaining 
with the depositors." 

From the long list of the more important collections 
of personal papers — other than those before mentioned 
— in the possession of the Library, the following may be 
named as fairly representative of the entire number: 
John Archdale [Colonial Governor], Gen. Jacob Brown 
[War of 1812], Aaron Burr, Salmon P. Chase, Henry 
Clay, Gen. George Clinton [Revolutionary War], Gen. 
James Clinton [Revolutionary War], John J. Crittenden 
[Statesman], John Fitch [Inventor], Albert Gallatin, 
Sir William Johnson [French and Indian War], James 
Kent [Jurist], Hugh McCulloch [Statesman], John Mc- 
Lean [Jurist], George Mason [Statesman], Commodore 
Edward Preble, John Sherman [Statesman], Gen. Adam 
Stephen [Revolutionary War], Thaddeus Stevens, Ly- 
man Trumbull [Statesman], Elihu B. Washburne 
[Statesman], Gideon Welles [Statesman], Henry Wil- 
son [Vice-President], and William Wirt [Statesman]. 



214 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The Connecticut Historical Society. 

The manuscript collections of the Connecticut His- 
torical Society are extensive and important. They 
cover the Colonial period, from an early date; the 
French and Indian War; the Revolutionary War; and 
they come down to the present day. Of the component 
parts of this large mass of material a few, having a 
special interest, may be mentioned as illustrative of the 
general character of the collections : 
Correspondence of the Colony and State of Connec- 
ticut with other Colonies and with Congress, 1753- 
1809. 
Deane, Silas. Correspondence of, 1771-1789. 
Fitch, Gov. Thomas. Official correspondence, 1754- 

1766. 
Greene, Gen. Nathanael. Letters from him, 1778-1785. 
Hale, Capt. Nathan [the Martyr Spy]. His diary, and 

letters addressed to him, 1773-1776. 
Johnson, William Samuel. His correspondence from 

1765 to 1790. 
Law, Gov. Jonathan. His official correspondence from 

1741 to 1750. 
Occum, Samson [Indian preacher]. His correspon- 
dence. 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 215 

Revolutionary War. Muster rolls, orderly books, and 
letters from soldiers and others concerning the war. 

Talcott, Gov. Joseph. His official correspondence from 
1724 to 1741. 

Trumbull, Gov. Jonathan. Political, official, and per- 
sonal letters, and other papers, extending over nearly 
the whole period of his life. 

Trumbull, Col. Jonathan, Jr. Military letters while 
Paymaster General [1775-8], personal and business 
letters [1773-1809], letters from members of Congress 
[1790-1809], and letters from the U. S. Government 
[1778-1809]. 

Wadsworth, Col. Jeremiah [member of the Continental 
Congress]. His correspondence from 1777 to 1803. 

Williams, William [Signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence]. His correspondence from 1760 to 1800. 

Wolcott, Oliver [Secretary of the treasury and Governor 
of Conn.]. Letters to him from his father [one of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence], Gen. 
Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Oliver 
Ellsworth, Geo. Cabot, Fisher Ames, and many others 
of the leading men of his day. 

The Drexel Institute, Philadelphia. 

The manuscript collections of the Drexel Insti- 
tute contain the manuscripts and autographs collected 



216 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

by the late Mr. George W. Childs, and presented by 
him, during his lifetime, to the Library. They con- 
sist of valuable original manuscripts of modern au- 
thors, and autograph letters of noted persons. Among 
the treasures of the collection are the original manu- 
script of Dickens's "Our Mutual Friend," bound in 
two volumes, closely written, as it was sent to the 
printer, with innumerable erasures and insertions; 
an autograph manuscript of Thackeray's "Lecture on 
George III.," handsomely bound and extra-illustrated 
with portraits and original drawings and water-colors 
by Thackeray (the identical copy from which he read 
when he lectured in America); the original manuscript 
of Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue"; of Lamb's 
"Essay on Witches and other Night Fears," signed 
"Elia"; of Bremer's "Hertha"; of Godwin's "Cloudes- 
ley, a Novel"; of Andre's "The Cow Chace," and of 
many other important works. The autograph letters 
comprise, among others, a set of letters from the 
Presidents of the United States; the Pinkerton corres- 
pondence (in four volumes), including letters from many 
noted Englishmen, of the latter part of the eighteenth 
century, to John Pinkerton; and collections of miscel- 
laneous letters written by English and American au- 
thors and statesmen. 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 217 

The Maine Historical Society. 

In addition to a large quantity of local historical 
matter in the manuscript department of the Maine His- 
torical Society, its collections include such important 
papers as those of Gen. Henry Knox, Sir William Pep- 
perell, Dr. Silvester Gardiner, Gov. William King, and 
the Longfellow family. The letter-book of Benedict 
Arnold during his expedition to Quebec, presented to 
the Society by Aaron Burr in 1831, is an interesting 
relic of the American Revolution. 

In point of value and general attractiveness, the 
collection formed by the late Dr. John S. H. Fogg, of 
South Boston, and bequeathed by him to the Society, 
overshadows all the other manuscript material in its 
possession. It numbers between four and five thousand 
papers, arranged in fifty-nine volumes, and includes 
letters and documents of Colonial Governors, Generals 
of the Revolution, members of the Continental Con- 
gress, and most of the noted men and women of America, 
in all ranks of life, from Colonial days to modern times. 
Its set of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence 
is complete and very fine. 

Foreign autographs are represented by Ferdinand 
and Isabella, Queen Elizabeth, Oliver Cromwell, Napo- 



218 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

leon Bonaparte, William Harvey [discoverer of the cir- 
culation of the blood], John Keats [a love-letter to 
Fanny Brawn], Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and 
many more who are noted in history or literature. 

The Missouri Historical Society. 

This Society has, among its numerous manuscript 
collections, many letters of Thomas Jefferson, a com- 
plete set of letters of the Presidents of the U. S., and a 
quantity of miscellaneous, political, and literary papers 
[known as the W. K. Bixby Collection]. 

Its most important historical manuscripts are the 
following named: 

Spanish Archives, 1769-1805, relating to the history of 
Louisiana. 

St. Louis Archives, French, Spanish, and English. 
1766-1809. 

St. Genevieve Archives, 1746-1855. 

Francois Valle collection, St. Genevieve, 1791-1847. 

New Madrid Archives, 1791-1804. 

The papers of Charles Dehault Delassus, the last Span- 
ish Governor of Upper Louisiana. 

Mexican War papers. 

Papers of Senator Thomas H. Benton. 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 219 

The New Hampshire Historical Society. 

The manuscripts in the possession of this Society 
are chiefly of an historical nature. Its most important 
collections are the twenty-five volumes of letters of 
Daniel Webster and the four volumes of letters and 
papers of Gen. John Sullivan, of the Revolutionary War. 
The Hibbard papers, which relate in part to the Revo- 
lutionary War and in part are of an autographic nature, 
consist of letters of distinguished men, mostly of this 
country, for the last two hundred years. There are, 
in addition, numerous small collections and many mis- 
cellaneous manuscripts. 

The New York Historical Society. 

The archives of the New York Historical Society 
contain fifty-eight volumes of original manuscripts 
covering the Colonial period, represented in the Col- 
den, de Peyster, Lloyd, and Leggett papers. The 
Revolutionary period embraces the Gates, Lamb, 
Steuben, Stirling, Reed, McDougall, Duer, Stewart, and 
McLane papers, and a collection of Orderly books. 
It also contains the correspondence, in nine volumes, of 



220 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

James Duane. There are, in addition, many papers 
of a later period, included in the Gallatin, Hone, Bar- 
clay, King, and Thomas papers. 

The New York Public Library. 

The manuscript collections in the New York Public 
Library are, beyond question, much larger and more 
important than those in any other Public Library in 
the United States. 

The Emmet collection alone contains 10,800 pieces, 
embracing complete series of the Albany Convention 
of 1754, the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, the Conti- 
nental Congress of 1774, the entire Continental Con- 
gress, the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
the Signers of the Articles of Confederation, the Gen- 
erals of the American Revolution, Washington and 
his military family, the Annapolis Convention, the 
Federal Convention, and the first Federal Adminis- 
tration. Some of these series — especially those of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence — are either 
unrivaled or unexcelled in any other collection. 

In the field of American literature the Library has 
the extensive correspondence of Evert A. and George 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 221 

L. Duyckinck, which includes letters from nearly every 
American literary character from 1840 to 1855. In 
English literature, it has one or more letters of Robert 
Burns, William Cowper, Oliver Goldsmith, Dr. Samuel 
Johnson, Alexander Pope, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert 
Southey. It also has the good fortune to be the pos- 
sessor of an autograph letter of the poet Milton, 
written to his friend Carlo Dait, of Florence. This 
great rarity was, in connection with some other material 
relating to Milton, purchased from B. Quaritch, in 
1882, for £42. 

The Library also owns the following named sepa- 
rate collections: 

The Rich collection, of about 142 volumes, relat- 
ing to Spanish-America. 

The Chalmers Collection, of 25 volumes, contain- 
ing material for a history of the revolt in the American 
Colonies. 

The Hardwicke collection, of 140 volumes, relating 
to English history of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- 
turies. 

The Bancroft collection, consisting of original pa- 
pers and transcripts collected by George Bancroft for 
his historical work; and comprising the extensive cor- 
respondence of Samuel Adams [one of the Signers of the 
Declaration of Independence], the letters and papers 



222 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

relating to the German auxiliary troops in the American 
Revolution, the papers of Joseph Hawley [the patriot, 
of Northampton, Mass.], and numerous letters of dis- 
tinguished Americans. 

The Myers collection, formed by Col. T. Bailey 
Myers, contains about 1600 pieces, chiefly autograph 
letters and documents of the Colonial and Revolution- 
ary periods. It includes Signers of the Declaration of 
Independence, Members of the Continental Congress, 
Generals of the Revolutionary War, distinguished 
Englishmen and Frenchmen, Hessian officers, and the 
papers of Gen. Daniel Morgan. 

The Ford collection, made by Gordon L. Ford and 
his sons, between 1840 and 1898, is of a varied character. 
It is composed mainly of autographs of Americans of 
the Revolutionary period and the nineteenth century, 
and contains about 60,000 loose pieces and some bound 
volumes. 

The Schuyler Revolutionary papers number about 
2430 items, consisting of letters to Gen. Philip Schuyler 
from military officers, members of Congress, Committees 
of Safety, etc., 1761-1802. The greater part of them 
relate to the conduct of the war in the Northern De- 
partment, 1775-1777. 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 223 

The New York State Library. 

The manuscript department of the New York State 
Library constituted, prior to the fire which worked 
such destruction to its contents, "the largest and most 
important body of archives in the possession of the 
State. The manuscripts were acquired by gift, by pur- 
chase, and by transfer from various State offices, during 
a period of sixty-live years, and embraced practically 
all that had been preserved of the executive, legislative, 
and judicial records of the administration of the province 
under Dutch regime [1630-1664, 1673— i]; the executive 
and legislative papers, other than land papers, of the 
English Colonial administration; the executive and 
legislative papers of the Provincial administration 
during the Revolution; the correspondence of Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson, and of Governors George Clinton and 
Daniel D. Tompkins." 

Notwithstanding the serious losses incurred by the 
fire — principally in the records of the English Colonial 
period, the Sir William Johnson papers, the Clinton 
papers, and the Tompkins papers — a vast amount of 
valuable manuscript material remains. It includes a 
series of letters and documents of the Signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, Andre papers [13 manu- 
scripts], Washington's opinion of the surviving Generals 



224 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

of the Revolution [written in the winter of 1791-2, 
after St. Clair's defeat], draft of Washington's Farewell 
Address [written in the Spring of 1796], and draft of 
Lincoln's first Emancipation Proclamation [Sept. 22, 
1862]. 

There are 61 volumes of New York Colonial manu- 
scripts, illustrating the civil and political history of the 
Colony from its first settlement to the time of the 
American Revolution; 13 volumes of the public and 
private papers of Sir William Johnson; and 10 volumes 
of the papers of General [and Governor] George Clinton. 
Among miscellaneous manuscripts there are papers 
relating to the household affairs of President Wash- 
ington in 1790, British Colonial army papers and ac- 
counts, autograph letters of American officials and 
authors, and a large collection of papers of Ethan Allen, 
Ira Allen, and other Vermonters [known as the Stevens 
papers]. 



The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

The manuscript department of the Historical So- 
ciety of Pennsylvania greatly exceeds, in size and im- 
portance, that of any other Historical Society in the 
United States. It contains over 3,000 volumes of let- 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 225 

ters and documents, and thousands of loose papers; 
aggregating a total of not less than 500,000 items, and 
probably nearly twice that number. 

The Penn manuscripts are contained in 210 of these 
volumes; which include 234 autograph letters or docu- 
ments of William Penn, 160 of them being full auto- 
graph letters signed. 

The collection is particularly rich in autographs of 
Gen. Washington, having 128 A. L, S. folio or 4to, 185 
L. S. folio or 4to, 6 A. D. S., 9 autograph documents 
unsigned, and 25 D. S. — a total of 353. It also con- 
tains Washington's pocket diary of the weather from 
January to June, 1796; entirely in his handwriting. 

Of letters and documents of Benjamin Franklin 
there are, in the collection, 42 A. L. S. folio or 4to, and 
160 A. D. S., L. S., D. S., and unsigned autograph docu- 
ments. 

The Wayne collection comprises over 2000 letters 
and drafts of letters of Gen. Anthony Wayne, covering 
the entire period of the Revolutionary War and his 
campaign against the Western Indians. 

Among the papers of James Wilson, a Signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, there is the original 
draft of the Constitution of the United States. 

The five volumes of the papers of Thomas McKean 
[a Signer of the Declaration of Independence] contain 



226 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

letters from Washington, Franklin, and many other 
Revolutionary statesmen and soldiers. 

The Joel R. Poinsett papers contain much of his 
correspondence with Andrew Jackson during the Nul- 
lification period. 

The correspondence of James Buchanan, extending 
from 1813 to 1868, contains a great number of letters 
of men who were prominent in public life during those 
years. 

The Dreer, Etting, Conarroe, and other collections, 
furnish letters and documents of all the noted men of 
the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. The Dreer 
collection alone numbers about 15,000 autograph 
letters and documents, covering the entire field of 
American history; and including, in its treasures, 
hundreds of letters of British and Continental celebri- 
ties, of all modern periods and in all the walks of life. 
The British literary series is especially full, from the 
reign of Elizabeth to the twentieth century; and con- 
tains, among other gems, a D. S. of the poet Milton. 

The Society has two complete sets of the Signers of 
the Declaration of Independence, another set complete 
with the exception of Lynch, and two others that are 
complete with the exception of Lynch and Gwinnett. 
It has complete sets of the Albany Convention and the 
Federal Convention. The Stamp Act Congress lacks 




FERDINAND J. DREER 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 227 

one name only; and the Continental Congress and 
Generals of the Revolutionary War are almost complete. 



The Rhode Island Historical Society. 

The Rhode Island Historical Society has about 
200,000 manuscripts, which deal with the history of 
the Colony and State from 1636 to the present time. 
The principal series are the Rhode Island Historical 
Society manuscripts, the Foster papers, the Moses 
Brown papers, the Greene papers, the military papers, 
the Harris papers, the Champlin papers, and the 
Channing-Ellery papers. 



The Virginia Historical Society. 

The Virginia Historical Society has, in its possession, 
a number of interesting collections relating to the Co- 
lonial and Revolutionary history of the State; the most 
important of which are the Philip Ludwell, the Ran- 
dolph, the Lee, and the Campbell papers, and those 
relating to the Custis family. 

It is specially rich in letters of Presidents Jefferson, 
Madison, and Monroe; of Edmund Pendleton; of 
Generals Lafayette and Knox; of Chief Justice John 



228 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Marshall; of the Lee families; and of the British General 
William Phillips, who was a prisoner of war, in com- 
mand of the "Convention troops," at Charlottesville, 
Va. It probably owns more letters of Gen. Washington 
than any other Historical Society in the United States, 
with the single exception of the Historical Society of 

Pennsylvania. 

■ 

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 

This Society has an unusually large and rich col- 
lection of manuscripts, embracing hundreds of volumes 
of letters, documents, etc., that have special reference 
to the history of Wisconsin and to its military history 
during the Civil War. 

The Lyman C. Draper manuscript collection, which 
is probably the most important part of the treasures 
of the Society, alone consists of 469 folio volumes. It 
comprises six volumes of data relative to the Mecklen- 
burg declaration of independence; while other volumes 
contain early manuscripts relative to Alabama, Georgia, 
Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and King's Moun- 
tain. The wealth of historical material laboriously 
gathered by Dr. Draper during the greater portion of 
his life baffles description in any short notice. 



PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 229 

While he was Secretary of the Society much atten- 
tion was given to the collection of autographs. "As a re- 
sult the Society has several valuable series. Most note- 
worthy are the two containing the autographs of the 
Signers of the Declaration of Independence and of the 
Signers of the Constitution. Another interesting set 
is that of the Presidents of the Old Congress. The 
Society also possesses the autographs of most of the 
Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States, of 
many of the Generals of the Revolutionary War, and 
of a large number of Kentucky pioneers. It has also 
received, from many sources, a large number of auto- 
graphs of prominent men in America and Europe." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

On the Migration and the Pedigrees of Auto- 
graphs. 

THE passage of important autograph letters 
and documents from one collection to another 
prompts a few remarks on what, in the 
heading of this chapter, is called the migra- 
tion of autographs. When we learn, in a general way, 
that many of the great collections formed in years 
gone by and dispersed after the death of their respect- 
ive owners, contained specimens of names that are 
now seldom met with or are practically unobtainable, 
we are apt to conclude that the rarity of these names 
has been exaggerated. This belief, however, quickly 
disappears when we discover that, not infrequently, 
the identical letter or document has traveled from col- 
lection to collection, taking its place, in turn, in several 
of them. Thus, a letter of Andre Chenier, which in 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 231 

1827 was sold for 20 francs 95 centimes, and which 
had become part of the great Fillon collection, passed 
in succession into the noted collections of Alfred Bovet 
and Alexander Cohn, and was disposed of, after the 
death of Mr. Cohn, for the sum of 780 marks, or more 
than forty-five times the price it had brought in 1827. 
To one who does not trace the lineage of letters it might 
seem as though four different letters of Chenier had 
been sold, in the few collections named, since the year 
1827, and that this autograph could not, therefore, 
be rare; whereas, in point of fact, a single letter, only, 
was sold as it journeyed from one home to another. 

The catalogue of the Tremont collection has, as one 
of its important items, a sketch in ink, by the great 
painter Raphael, of two heads of horses, with the arms 
of men, containing five lines in his handwriting, with 
the date 1510. The following note is appended: 
"This drawing formed part of the collection of Prince 
de Ligne. It then passed into the collection of Comte 
de Fries; thence to that of Prof. Bohm, of Vienna; 
and lastly into that of M. Donnadieu, who had bought 
it from a Mons. Hertz, paying 1000 francs for it. At 
the Donnadieu sale in London it was bought by Baron 
de Tremont." Here we have six migrations of the 
same paper. 

It would be very easy, though tiresome, to multiply 



232 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

instances of this kind. The fact, however, should be 
noted, that a lineage like that named in the two cases 
cited, where the stamp of genuineness has been so 
firmly fastened upon the letter, gives the paper addi- 
tional value. The best known dealers in France — 
the Charavay family — fully recognize this fact; and 
it has been their custom, for many years past, in the 
preparation of catalogues, to name, as far as possible, 
the sources from which the letters were obtained. 

The poet Southey says : "A book is the more valu- 
able to me when I know to whom it has belonged, and 
through what 'scenes and changes' it has passed. I 
would have its history recorded in the fly-leaf; and I am 
sorry when I see the name of a former owner obliterated 
in a book, or the plate of his arms defaced." If he had 
been writing about autographs, instead of books, 
would he not have said that an autograph would be 
more valuable to him "when he knew to whom it had 
belonged and through what scenes and changes it had 
passed" ? 

No apology is needed for quoting the following 
beautiful passage from Mr. Frederick R. MacDonald's 
entertaining brochure entitled "In a Nook with a 
Book." His words about the feeling of the book- 
lover towards his treasures are equally true of the feeling 
the autograph-lover has for the personal memorials he 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 233 

has gathered. "I have," he says, "a special affection 
for a volume that comes to me at second, or at twentieth, 
hand. No possessions that our predecessors have left 
behind them are so truly a part of themselves, or link 
us so directly with those who have joined 'the choir 
invisible,' as the books they once handled and read. 
We are all of us moved, more or less, at sight of the 
personal relics of the illustrious dead — the mouldering 
helmet of the Black Prince, Newton's telescope, Nel- 
son's sword, Wesley's teapot, and the like. I have 
seen the visitor visibly affected at sight of a hero's 
cocked hat, or wig, or snuff box in the glass case of a 
museum. The lifeless thing, with no touch of grace 
or beauty in it, helps the imagination. The past is 
brought back, and that which has long been dead is for 
the moment quickened to something like life. But a 
man's books will bring him nearer to us than his old 
clothes or trinkets can. A book that has served the 
studies, or helped the devotion, or furnished the rec- 
reation of a once living man or woman, is itself almost 
a living thing, with human memories and associations 
lastingly inwrought. Your book-lover knows and feels 
all this. When he handles an old book he has an eye 
for former owners' names, for inscriptions, for mar- 
ginalia, for notes of any kind suggesting human per- 
sonality — in some cases a recognizable personality, but 



234 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

for the most part one of which a faint and shadowy 
perception is all that is possible. I have volumes on 
my shelves that have had a history — that much is 
plain — and they drop hints, so to speak, of the places 
they have lived in and the company they have kept. 
It is impossible to question them, as I have often wished 
to do, or at least to get an answer to one's questions. 
They are reserved, and, like people we have met, never 
speak freely of their past, but by an allusion now and 
again they give glimpses of it that one makes a note of." 

While a letter is no more gifted with the power of 
speech than is a book, there is, nevertheless, much that 
it can tell to one who seeks to learn its biography in a 
spirit of affection for its voiceless body. By way of 
illustration let us take a very remarkable letter of the 
unfortunate king of England known in history as "the 
Royal Martyr." It was written to the Marquis of 
Ormond, his commander in Ireland, just after the dis- 
astrous defeat of the king's main army at Naseby, and 
bears date July 31, 1645. 

Any one who reads the letter with an accurate 
knowledge of this unfortunate Monarch's distinguishing 
characteristics, and of the forlorn state of his cause at 
this time, can easily form, in imagination, a picture of 
him as, with a heavy heart and intense distress of mind, 
he wrote these words. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 235 

Cardif 31 July 1645 
Ormond, it hath pleased God, by many successive 
misfortunes, to reduce my affaires of late from a very 
prosperous condition, to so low an eb, as to be a perfect 
tryel of all mens' integrities to me, and you being a 
person whom I consider as most entyrly and generously 
resolved to stand and fall with your King, I doe prin- 
cipally rely upon you for your utermost assistance in 
my present hazards. I have comanded Digby to 
acquainte you at large with all particulars of my con- 
dition, what I have to hope, trust too, or feare, wherein 
you will fynde, that if my expectation of relife out of 
Irland be not in some good measure, and speedely 
answered, I am lykely to be reduced to great extremi- 
ties. I hope some of those expresses I sent you, since 
my misfortune by the Battaile of Nazeby, ar come to 
you, and am therfor confident that you ar in a good 
forwardness for the sending over to me a considerable 
supply of Men, Artillery, and Amunition. All that I 
have to add is, that the necessety of your speedy per- 
forming them, is made much more pressing by new 
disasters, so that I absolutely command you [what 
hazard soever that Kingdome may run by it] personally 
to bring up all the Forces, of what sort soever you can 
draw from thence, and leave the Government there 
[during your absence] in the fittest hands that you shall 



236 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

judge to discharge it, for I may not want you heere 
to comand those forces which will be brought from 
thence, and such as, from hence, shall be joyned to 
them. But you must not understande this, as a per- 
mission for you to grant to the Irish [in case they will 
not otherwais have a Peace] anything more in matter 
of Religion than what I have alowed you allready, 
except only, in some convenient Parishes, where the 
much greater number ar Papists, I give you power to 
permitt them to have some places, which they may use 
as Chapells for theire Devotions, if there be no other 
impediment for obtaining a Peace, but I will rather 
chuse to suffer all extremities, than ever to abandon 
my Religion, and particularly ether to English or Irish 
Rebels, to which effect I have comanded Digby to 
wryt to their Agents that were employed hither, giving 
you power to cause deliver, or suppresse the letter, as 
you shall judge best for my services. To conclude, if 
the Irish shall so unworthily take advantage of my 
weake condition, as to presse me to that which I cannot 
grant with a safe Conscience, and withoute it to reject 
a Peace, I comand you, if you can, to procure a 
further Cessation, if not,' to make what divisions you 
can among them, and rather leave it to the chance of 
Warr betweene them, and those Forces which you have 
not power to draw to my assistance, then to give my 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 237 

consent to any such allowance of Popery, as must 
evidently bring destruction to that Profession which, 
by the grace of God, I shall ever maintaine through 
all extremities. I know, Ormond, that I impose a 
very hard Taske upon you, but if God prosper me, 
you will be a happy and glorious subject; if otherwais, 
you will perishe, nobly and generously, with and for 
him who is 

your constant reall faithfull Frend, 
Charles R. 

This letter has been one of the gems in several 
notable collections. We first hear of it as belonging 
to a Mr. Baker, who had many other letters of historical 
importance. When his collection was sold in the year 
1855, Mr. John Young became its purchaser at the 
price of £70. In 1869 Mr. Young's autographs were 
disposed of; and the letter passed into the hands of 
Mr. Addington, who paid £80 for it. In 1876, at the 
sale of the Addington collection, it was purchased by 
Mr. Morrison for £69 and had a place among his 
splendid manuscript possessions until, on their dis- 
persal in December, 1917, it was sold to Quaritch for 
£160. Where will its next home be? 

Many other letters could tell stories of extreme 
historical or personal interest. As an additional il- 



238 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

lustration of the way in which they can speak to one 
who loves to learn their full biographies, a letter of the 
poet Keats to his betrothed, Fanny Brawne, may be 
taken. 

On July 8, 1819 — shortly after his engagement to 
Miss Brawne, and about nineteen months before his 
death in Italy — he writes to her: 

My Sweet Girl: 

Your letter gave me more delight than any- 
thing in the world but yourself could do; indeed I am 
almost astonished that my absent one should have 
that luxurious power over my senses which I feel. 
Even when I am not thinking of you I receive your 
influence and a tenderer nature stealing upon me. All 
my thoughts, my unhappiest days and nights have, 
I find, not at all cured me of my love of Beauty, but 
made it so intense that I am miserable that you are 
not with me. ... I never knew before what such 
a love as you have made me feel, was. I did not be- 
lieve in it; my Fancy was afraid of it, lest it should 
burn me up. But if you will fully love me, though 
there may be some fire it will not be more than we can 
bear when moistened and bedewed with Pleasures. 
... I would never see anything but Pleasure in your 
eyes, love on your lips, and Happiness in your steps. 






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TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 239 

. . . Why may I not speak of your Beauty, since 
without that I could never have lov'd you. I can not 
conceive any beginning of such love as I have for you 
but Beauty. There may be a sort of love for which, 
without the least sneer at it, I have the highest respect 
and can admire it in others : but it has not the richness, 
the bloom, the full form, the enchantment, of love 
after my own heart. So let me speak of your Beauty, 
though to my own endangering, if you could be so 
cruel to me as to try elsewhere its Power. You say 
you are afraid I shall think you do not love me. In 
saying this you make me ache the more to be near you. 
I am at the diligent use of my faculties here. I do not 
pass a day without sprawling some blank verse or 
tagging some rhymes; and here I must confess that 
[since I am on that subject] I love you the more in that 
I believe you have liked me for my own sake and for 
nothing else. I have met with women whom I really 
think would like to be married to a Poem and to be 
given away by a Novel. ... I kiss'd your writing 
over in the hope you had indulg'd me by leaving a 
trace of honey. What was your dream? Tell it me 
and I will tell you the interpretation thereof. 

Ever yours my love! 
John Keats. 



240 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

As we read the words that speak the strength of his 
love, our hearts go out to him in deepest sympathy. 
We are reminded that consumption had carried off 
his brother, and had laid its fatal hold upon him; that 
his fine literary work did not earn him a living. We 
recall the fact that he well knew his marriage with Miss 
Brawne could not take place unless he could overcome 
both his disease and his poverty. We are filled with 
indignation at the merciless and cruel criticisms of the 
reviewers of that day — criticisms that sorely wounded 
his gentle, lovable nature, but that called forth no 
resentment from him: merely the reply: "I think I 
shall be among the English poets after my death." 
And while we ponder upon the loss that literature and 
poetry suffered in the death, in his early youth, of one 
so gifted, we unite with the English-speaking world 
in saying: "You thought rightly. You have an as- 
sured place, and a high one, among the great English 
poets." 

Conversations About Autographs, 

First Conversation. 

Mr. Young. I have called on you, Mr. Old, to ask 
your advice about a matter in which I intend to be 
guided by your judgment. A year or more ago a 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 241 

friend gave me an autograph note of President Lincoln, 
written to his father; and, seeing the pleasure with 
which I received it, he invited me to look over his 
father's correspondence, and take from it what I de- 
sired. I did so; and in this way I obtained quite a 
number of letters of prominent men of the Civil War 
period. The more I got, the more I wanted. The 
fever for collecting had taken possession of me. Now, 
as I am a man of very moderate means, unable to in- 
dulge myself with any expensive taste; and as I am 
told that the rarer and more desirable autographs are 
commanding very high prices, and that common names 
alone can be had cheaply; the question I am considering 
is whether it would not be wise for me to abandon this 
hobby before it becomes so firmly established with me 
as to make it difficult for me to give it up. 

Mr. Old. I do not know of any reason why I should 
advise you to give up the pursuit of one of the most im- 
proving and interesting of all recreations. It is true, 
as you have been told, that the prices of certain auto- 
graphs have risen so greatly within the last fifteen or 
twenty years, that wealthy men alone can purchase 
them. But these autographs are very few in number 
when compared with the thousands of others that would 
receive a welcome to the portfolios of any one who does 
not confine himself to some special, and therefore 



242 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

limited, line of collecting. When I tell you that some 
men who finally amassed very noteworthy collections 
spent fifty years or more of their lives in gathering 
their treasures, you will see that the pursuit of the hobby 
brings in its gains slowly but steadily, from month to 
month and year to year, until long continued alertness 
and watchful waiting accomplish the completion or 
extension of series after series. The greatest pleasure 
is derived from the gradual acquisition of your needs. 
You go on adding, little by little, to some favorite 
series; each successive gain being full of pleasure for 
you. When the work is done and the series completed, 
you are apt to allow your old love to be somewhat 
neglected, though never forgotten ; and to become ener- 
getic in some other direction. 

The fact that I want to convey to your mind by what 
I have said is that there is plenty of worthy material 
that is accessible to men who are not rich; enough 
indeed to engage their attention all their lives. The 
few greatest rarities are seldom acquired even by the 
millionaire collector; in fact I have never heard of 
more than one such collector whose indefatigable 
energy and great wealth enabled him, during many 
years, to outbid all competitors for the choicest and 
rarest autographs that appeared at public sales in 
any part of Europe or that were in the hands of dealers. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 243 

I refer to the late Mr. Morrison, an English merchant, 
who at the time of his death was the owner of a col- 
lection that is unequaled, except by the British Museum 
and the Bibliotheque Nationale, for the quality and 
character of the numerous gems it contains. 

Names of first importance come slowly to those who 
seek them, and they are never likely to fall very much 
in value; because they are limited in quantity, and col- 
lectors are constantly increasing in number. Why, 
however, may not one whose purse will not permit the 
purchase of a full autograph letter signed of — let us 
say — Queen Elizabeth or Oliver Cromwell, content 
himself, at least for the time being, with a letter or 
document, merely signed, of either of them ? 

If, in the youth of your hobby, you purpose confining 
your attention to American autographs, I can tell you 
of many interesting series the formation of which you 
may undertake with the reasonable hope that you 
can go far towards completing them without the ex- 
penditure of much money. One of the most attractive 
of these series is that of the members of the Continental 
— sometimes called Old — Congress. As you know, 
this was the body that governed the United Colonies 
during the Revolutionary War, and it was composed 
of the most eminent statesmen and patriots of the day. 
Autograph letters or documents of most of the men 



244 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

who were members of this Congress can be had at small 
cost; and, with few exceptions, nearly all the scarcer 
ones are procurable, from time to time, at prices that 
are not extravagant. For many years this was a favor- 
ite and leading series with collectors; but, for some un- 
accountable reason, the taste for it has, during recent 
times, lain dormant; the consequence being a large 
reduction in the prices asked for the names it includes. 

Another instructive and patriotic series that you 
might attempt, with the certainty of success at very 
reasonable cost, is that of the Presidents of the United 
States and the Members of their Cabinets. This, too, 
was once a series that was undertaken by all collectors; 
but, while the Presidential series is universally popular 
— more so than ever — the Cabinet series is almost en- 
tirely neglected, and prices have suffered correspond- 
ingly. 

A great number of miscellaneous names — United 
States Senators, Governors, authors, scientists, army 
and navy officers, and other notables — can be had for 

little more than a song. 

A good series to attempt is that of the members of 
the first Congress organized under the Constitution 
of the United States. Most of the names can be had 
without difficulty. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 245 

Another series, equally easyoi completion, is that of 
the "Peace Congress" of 1861 ; the membership of which 
comprised a large number of the leading statesmen of 
that day. 

I ought not to omit calling your attention to one 
other series that has been steadily growing in the favor of 
collectors, and that is sure to become, in the near future, 
important and attractive. I refer to the Generals of 
the Civil War, Union and Confederate. According to 
my recollection, there are more than a thousand of 
them. War letters — that is, letters written from camp 
or field during the war — are considered choice, and 
bring much larger prices than those written before or 
after the war. Most of them are of pkntjfti] occurrence 
at this time, and cost but little. I hope I have now 
said enough to convince you that my advice is good 
when I say, unqualifiedly, stick to your hobby. 



wad ConmersmtiatL 

Mr. Yammg. You will remember, Mr. Old, that 
when I first came to consult you, some months ago, 
in regard to the wisdom of attempting to form a col- 
lection of autographs, you told me to call on you for 
any information I might need for my euidance. 



246 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Adopting one of your suggestions, I commenced to 
collect letters and documents of the members of the 
Continental Congress, and I have been quite successful 
in getting a considerable number of them. The 
dealer who offers to sell me the letters, which I now 
show you, of Daniel Carroll, a member from Maryland, 
and John Swann, a member from North Carolina, says 
he has no doubt that they are written by the men whose 
autographs I want, but declines to give me a positive 
guarantee of that fact. Will you have the kindness 
to tell me what you think of them? 

Mr. Old. One of the most important things for any 
man who is engaged in forming this series, or any other 
one, is to be particular in guarding against the in- 
clusion of letters written by men who, while having 
the right name, were not the identical persons who were 
members; or, in other words, to see that he does not 
place in his collection letters written by wrong men of 
the right name. Neither of the letters you show me is 
what you want. There were two Daniel Carrolls of 
Maryland, who were contemporaries. One of them 
was Daniel Carroll of Duddington, who "generally 
added the suffix to his signature, but sometimes omitted 
it, as he has done in this instance. He was not the 
member of Congress. Now, in regard to the letter of 
John Swan. The old Congressman from North Caro- 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 247 

lina spelt his name with two n's — John Swann. There 
was, contemporaneously with him, a John Swan, who 
spelt his name with a single n. He was a Major of 
Baylor's regiment of dragoons in the Revolutionary 
War. The letter you show me is written by him. 

If proper care were exercised, these mistakes should 
not occur. Yet such an experienced collector as Mr. 
Cist had, in his series of Old Congressmen, both of the 
wrong men we have been talking about, and Prof. 
Leffingwell had the wrong John Swann. 

It may interest you to know that the fine collections 
of both these men were marred by errors of this kind — 
errors which, in many instances, were inexcusable. 
For example, in the Cist collection we find John 
Stevens, noted for his invention for driving a screw 
propeller by steam, instead of his father of the same 
name; and John Vining, Senior, of Delaware, instead 
of his son, John. 

Among the Congressmen from Maryland, Robert 
Goldsborough, Jr., a Judge of the Supreme Court of 
Maryland, is accepted in place of his father; William 
Harrison is a wrong man of the right name; and David 
Ross, an officer in the French and Indian War, represents 
the right Ross. Among Virginia Congressmen we find 
Mann Page, Senior, instead of the son, of that name; a 
Marylander named William Fitzhugh, who, of course, 



248 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

was not the right man; and a James Henry who was a 
contemporary of the Congressman. When we come to 
the names in South Carolina and Georgia, we see Paul 
Trapier represented by the father of the Congressman, 
and John Walton by the son. 

The Leffingwell collection had fewer errors of this 
kind; the most notable being those of William Flem- 
ing, of Virginia, William Gibbons, of Georgia, William 
Henry, of Pennsylvania, and Nicholas Van Dyke, of 
Delaware. These names were represented, respect- 
ively, by CoL William Fleming, William Gibbons, 
Jun. y a totally different William Henry, and Nicholas 
Van Dyke, the younger. 

There are other names in the series about which 
you must be careful. In Pennsylvania, William Ship- 
pen, father and son, were contemporaries, and both of 
them were physicians. The elder Shippen was the 
congressman. Dr. David Jackson must not be con- 
founded with another Philadelphian of the same name; 
and Matthew Clarkson, the member from Pennsyl- 
vania, must not have his place filled by Major Matthew 
Clarkson, who was an aide to General Arnold. Gun- 
ning Bedford, of Delaware, must not be represented 
by a Philadelphia carpenter, of that name; nor Jona- 
than Elmer, of New Jersey, by a contemporary Jona- 
than, who was a clergyman. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 249 

Perhaps the most serious and glaring error that 
has occurred, apparently without excuse, is in the 
acceptance of a letter of George Taylor, who belonged 
to the New Jersey Coast Guard in the Revolutionary 
War, as that of the Pennsylvania Signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence. The handwriting and signa- 
tures of these two men are not at all similar; and yet 
I have known high prices to be paid by dealers, on 
at least two occasions, for letters of the wrong man. 
They have probably gone into collections whose own- 
ers are in happy ignorance of the truth. 

Let me add a word or two about the autographs 
of members of the "Albany Convention" of 1754. 
There has been a great deal of blundering on the part 
of collectors in accepting, for a place in this series, 
letters of the wrong men. To particularize — Henry 
Sherburne, Roger Wolcott, and Martin Howard should, 
in each case, be the Junior of that name, while William 
Smith should be the Senior. The Senior John Chand- 
ler should not supplant, as he often does, his son of 
the same name. 

I have said enough — perhaps more than enough 
— to caution you to be sure to get the right man of the 
given name, and not to accept the father instead of 
the son, or vice versa. The character of a collection 
depends, to a large extent, on the authenticity of its 



250 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

component parts. There must be equal exclusion of 
the spurious item and of that which can not show its 
title to the place in which it is to be put. 

Mr. Young. You have shown me, very clearly, 
some of the dangers I am likely to encounter. I shall 
certainly make every effort to avoid them; and I hope 
that, with your help, I shall succeed in doing so. 

Third Conversation. 

Mr. Young. I am trying to gather material for 
a set of letters of the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of 
the United States; and, though I am told that Aaron 
Burr is easily obtained, I have not, up to this time, had 
the opportunity of getting a letter written by him. 
Yesterday I was offered the letter which I now show 
you. It is dated April 9, 1776. On comparing the 
handwriting and signature with a facsimile of a letter 
of his dated in 1790, I do not see the slightest resem- 
blance between the two papers. This fact leads me 
to think that some other man, of the same name, 
must have written the letter about which Tarn asking 
your opinion. 

Mr. Old. I don't wonder that you have the 
doubt you express. Burr's early letters— those that he 
wrote as Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Putnam, and as a 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 251 



- ^5^2^ J 7Z ^ ^S±^ w^ . „-^ * ^, ~ZZ ^Z-^-^—%* 



wm**4 






//A~^ 



f 




ty-zXzjC**- ^^~*&>~cz^ 



9- Q_^^ £l* 



1. Conclusion of an autograph letter of Aaron Burr written in the year 1795, 

at the age of thirty-nine. 

2. Autograph written in the year 1776, at the age of twenty, when he was an 

officer in the Continental Army. 



252 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Lieutenant-Colonel in the Continental service— were 
the productions of a man less than, or very slightly 
over, twenty-one years old. At this time his hand- 
writing strongly resembled a school boy's scrawl. It 
was totally unformed; and, as you have said, is utterly 
unlike that of a period some eight or ten years later, 
when, after a series of gradual changes, it had acquired 
the neat and legible form so familiar to collectors. 
You need have no hesitation in placing this letter in 
your collection, unless you prefer to wait for one of 
a later date. As a matter of fact his early military 
letters are a hundred times scarcer than those he 
wrote after he had reached a mature age. 

Mr. Young. Are not these dissimilarities in the 
handwriting of a man, at different periods of his life, 
very unusual? 

Mr. Old. You will find, in your progress as a 
collector, a number of interesting instances similar to 
that you have had with the Burr letter. I can cite a 
couple that are directly in point. The signature of 
J. Rodman Drake, the noted poet, at the age of seven- 
teen bears only the shadow of resemblance to that 
at the age of twenty-one or twenty-two. The hand- 
writing and signature of General Washington at the 
age of seventeen, though scrupulously neat, bears a 












-vAr 5 **- £>&&■- 'Z> 



4 



I 



n 



L 



t '***$ f^** JO^ ^ j/L,. 



6/ /f J ^frum 




TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 253 

boyish character totally unlike his mature hand. Dur- 
ing the succeeding five years it was shaping itself, 
little by little, into the well known hand which it 
acquired by the time Washington was twenty-five. 

In contradistinction to these cases, there are others 
in which the handwriting became mature and fixed at 
a very early time of life. So it was with the preco- 
cious genius, Thomas Chatterton, who died at the age 
of eighteen, and with the lamented poet Henry Kirke 
White, who was only twenty-one at the time of his 
death. 

The handwriting of Abraham Lincoln preserved, 
until the close of his life, its early form and neatness. 

Of changes in the handwriting of eminent men 
none is more notable than that which occurs in the 
case of the illustrious Bacon, afterwards Baron Veru- 
lam and Viscount St. Albans. As Francis Bacon his 
handwriting and signature present characteristics very 
different from those which appear when he became 
Lord Chancellor and signed himself "Fr. Verulam, 
Cane." 

Samuel Leigh Sotheby, the author of "Ramblings 
in the Elucidation of the Autograph of Milton, ,, had 
occasion to make a close study of handwriting, and 
became an acknowledged expert in this field. He 
says: "Comparatively few persons adopt any other 



254 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

than the ordinary handwriting they use in their daily 
transactions. Their writing does not vary through- 
out their lives more than by its failure in precision and 
boldness as their physical powers decay. Of this fact 
numerous instances might be illustrated by facsimiles; 
while, on the other hand, many examples might be 
given of the handwriting of eminent persons, the 
character of which is totally different at various 
periods of their lives. More remarkable instances 
could not be adduced than in the autograph of Queen 
Elizabeth and Charles I, whose writing varied at dif- 
ferent periods and under peculiar circumstances." 
Mr. Sotheby might have mentioned a number of 
causes, some of which seem to be mere trifles, that 
affect the character of the handwriting. The pen, 
the posture of the hand, the space at command for 
the writing, even the condition of the health, have a 
positive influence upon the formation of the written 
words. 

While I am discussing handwriting, let me men- 
tion one or two facts which, possibly, may be of in- 
terest to you. Some day or other you will want an 
autograph letter, or at least a letter signed, of the 
great Napoleon. If you should succeed in getting a 
full letter, or one that has a few lines written by him, 
be prepared to find that you cannot decipher his words. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 255 

In the latter part of his life his handwriting became 
almost illegible, even to those who had long made a 
study of it. 

If you should want — as you probably will at some 
stage of your collecting — a letter or document signed 
of the illustrious Cardinal Richelieu, be careful, be- 
fore you buy, to have an expert say whether the sig- 
nature is that of the Cardinal or of his Secretary, who 
succeeded in imitating his master's signature so closely 
as to make it difficult to distinguish one from the 
other. I spoke of a letter or document merely signed, 
because a full autograph letter signed of the Cardinal 
is a very great rarity. 

Perhaps you have heard some people speak of 
the handwriting of Rufus Choate and Horace Gree- 
ley as being almost impossible to decipher. They tell 
fairy stories about the interpretations that have been 
placed on certain passages in letters of these men. 
Now, while it is true that their writing does not follow 
the models set down in the copy-books, and is neither 
beautiful nor easily read by one not accustomed to a 
variety of hands, it is equally untrue that their letters 
present the difficulties encountered with hieroglyphics. 



256 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Fourth Conversation. 

Mr. Young. I have made a pretty good start on 
the series of Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 
and have secured more than twenty letters or docu- 
ments of the men who affixed their names to this docu- 
ment. I know, as a matter of course, that the two 
rarest names in the series are those of Thomas Lynch, 
junior, and Button Gwinnett, and that I can never 
hope to get more than a mere signature of the one and 
perhaps a document signed of the other. I am offered 
at #50 — which I am told is a very low price — this 
book, having the signature of Thos. Lynch, junior, 
on the title page. The question in my mind is whether 
the signature is genuine. Will you tell me what you 
think of it? 

Mr. Old. First of all, let me ask you about the 
source from which the book comes. Is it the property 
of a reputable dealer in autographs or of some person 
unknown to you? The importance of this question 
will be plain when I tell you that, in passing upon the 
genuineness of signatures on the title pages- of books, 
the existence of a strong reason for believing that the 
book belonged to the person whose signature it is 
said to contain greatly helps us in reaching a correct 
conclusion. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 257 

Mr. Young. The book was brought to me by a 
stranger, who said he had heard Mr. A., a friend of 
mine, speak of my wish to obtain a Lynch signature. 
I asked him how long he had owned it and what he 
knew about its history. His answer was that his 
father had brought it, and many other books, with 
him when he moved from South Carolina. What 
impressed me more than anything else in regard to 
his good faith was that he was entirely willing to leave 
the book with me so that I might have it critically 
examined. 

Mr. Old. As you have no proof whatever that 
the book ever belonged to Lynch, let us see whether 
a close examination of the signature will throw any 
light on the question of genuineness. A great many 
years ago, when Mr. Tefft and other collectors in the 
South were making an active search for autographs of 
this Signer, it was accidentally discovered that a 
Public Library in Charleston contained a number of 
books that had belonged to him and that contained his 
signature. As it occupied a very minute space at the 
top of the title page, its removal did little damage to 
the book. The signatures so obtained found their 
way, by exchanges, into all the leading American 
collections of the nineteenth century; and the supply, 
which probably never exceeded fifteen, became ex- 



258 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

hausted. These signatures were written by Lynch 
when he was a very young man, and all of them are 
exactly alike. Let me show you one that I have. 
It is, as you see, "T Lynch Jun r "; and the letters are 
very small, the whole writing being little more than 
an inch in length. Do you not observe several great 
differences between this signature and that in the 
book? In the first place, the book has it "Thos. 
Lynch Jun r "; and he did not so write his name in 
books. Secondly, the writing lacks the firmness and 
precision of the acknowledged genuine signatures, and 
is a more flowing hand. Thirdly, and of great mo- 
ment, the ink is evidently not of the period when the 
pretended signature was written. It shows no sign 
of being nearly one hundred and fifty years old, but, 
on the contrary, bears all the looks of an ink of modern 
manufacture. I have no hesitation in advising you 
to return the book to the man from whom you got it. 

Mr. Young. You have taught me a lesson to be 
remembered. Certainly there must be many books in 
existence that contain the genuine autographs of dis- 
tinguished men. Must we look with suspicion upon 
all that can not be positively shown to have belonged 
to the man whose signature they bear? 

Mr. Old. No. To take that position would be 
going much too far. What we must do in all cases is 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 259 

to apply the recognized tests, and judge by the re- 
sults. Mr. Sotheby has considered this question in 
his "Ramblings." He says: "The success that has 
of late years attended the 'profession' of the forger of 
literary and antiquarian relics both abroad and at 
home, has had the effect of making the most learned 
and acute in such matters occasionally sceptical as to 
the genuineness of that of which they would not other- 
vise have entertained a doubt.'' 

Please remember that there are plenty of books, 
printed in Continental Europe as well as in England 
in the seventeenth century, that can be had for a 
trifling price. Assume that some industrious forger 
wants to put on the title page of one of these books 
the signature of Francis Bacon. He gets a good fac- 
simile of Bacon's handwriting, practices in copying it, 
and finally, when he has acquired sufficient skill to 
make an exact copy, he writes it on the title page of 
such a book of the period as one might suppose Bacon 
would admit to the shelves of his library. Or, he may 
adopt one of the ways in which a faint, but correct, 
tracing of the signature can be transferred to the pa- 
per, then to be gone over with ink. These forgeries 
are spoken of by Etienne Charavay and other experts 
as being common. In Volume 16 of the Cornhill 
Magazine there is an account of a German Bible 



260 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

which was purchased by the British Museum at the 
Hibbert Sale, in 1829, for the sum of £267.15. It 
was said to have belonged to Luther up to the time of 
his death, and afterwards to Melancthon, Bugenhausen, 
and Major; and to contain the autographs of all these 
famous men. Mr. Sotheby pronounced all these sig- 
natures to be forgeries. 

By what means, then, are such forgeries of mere 
signatures on title pages to be detected? You can 
not give them the same tests you can use in the case 
of letters. If the genuineness of a letter is doubted, 
among other tests you can take a single word and 
apply to it the proper chemical to inform you about 
the age and character of the ink. To test a mere 
signature in this way would be to ruin it. Inasmuch 
as the paper is surely of the period, your endeavor 
must be to ascertain whether the same thing is true 
of the ink. Dr. Scott discusses this matter in his 
"Autograph Collecting." He says: "With reference 
to the subject of ink, we need only consider one kind, 
since only one fluid has been used during the whole 
history of letter-writing until recent years, viz., ink 
made by macerating or infusing coarsely powdered 
nutgalls in pure water, in which green copperas [sul- 
phate of iron] had been previously dissolved with 
sufficient gum arabic or animal glue added to cause the 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 261 

fluid to flow readily from the pen and adhere to the 
paper. Nothing, however, connected with autographs 
requires closer or more attentive scrutiny, as hitherto 
the production of any liquid which will exactly re- 
semble old ink has baffled all the art of the forger. 
. . . Few inks have ever produced enduring jet-black 
writing, but they generally result in peculiar shades of 
colour of their own through the long-continued action 
of the atmospheric oxygen, and thus old writings sup- 
ply a wonderful variety of yellows, browns, and reds." 
An expert, following the information given in 
Carvalho's "Forty Centuries of Ink," and in Black- 
burn and CaddelPs "The Detection of Forgery," ought 
to be able to come to a reasonably correct conclu- 
sion whether the ink with which the alleged ancient 
signature was written is genuine ink of the period or 
whether it is of modern manufacture. 



Fifth Conversation. 

Mr. Young. I come to you again, Air. Old, for 
information that I need. I am making very good 
progress with my set of autographs of the Members of 
the Continental Congress; but sometimes I am at a 
loss to know whether the high price I am asked to pay 



262 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

for a letter on the ground of its rarity is justified by 
the fact. I know, of course, that rarity is one of the 
main factors in determining value; but I don't know 
which of the names in this long list are to be included 
in the extremely rare, the very rare, and the rare, cate- 
gories. 

Mr. Old. I am not at all surprised that you ask 
this question. Some sale catalogues describe a large 
number of the autographs named in them as rare or 
very rare; not for the purpose of deception, but chiefly 
because the cataloguer, having no real knowledge on 
this head, supposes that such a description of the 
item will make it more attractive. In other cata- 
logues all designations of rarity or degrees of rarity 
are omitted, upon the presumption that the intelli- 
gent collector already has this knowledge. I think 
this mode is decidedly the better one. 

Now I will try to answer your question. Your 
division of the degrees of rarity into extremely rare, 
very rare, and rare, is a good one. Unconsciously, 
perhaps, you are following, in part, the method origin- 
ated by the great French collector, Benjamin Fillon, 
and adopted by the late Etienne Charavay in prepar- 
ing the catalogue of that collection for the sale that 
took place in Paris in 1878. This method was to mark 
the degrees of rarity in the following manner: C [com- 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 263 

mon]; R 1 [same as common], R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R s , 

R 9 , to indicate the various degrees of progress in rarity; 
and R* to indicate excessive rarity, or, in other words, 
autographs that are either unique or presgue introuvables. 

Running over the names in the list of old Con- 
gressmen, I should say that in the category of extremely 
rare names — those that would be marked R 9 — place 
should be given to John Gardner [R. I.], and James 
Forbes and David Ross [Md.]. No letter of the right 
John Gardner has ever appeared for sale, nor is any 
known to exist in a private collection. His father [of 
the same name] — born in 1696, and died in 1770 — 
was quite a noted man, and at one time was Deputy 
Governor of R. I. The autograph of the elder Gard- 
ner is common, and some collectors have allowed it to 
do duty for the autograph of the son. 

Xo letter of James Forbes has appeared in any 
auction or sale catalogue; and the only known letter 
of the right David Ross is that which was sold at the 
Lefhngwell sale, and resold when the collection of its 
purchaser was disposed of. 

Among the very rare names — those that would be 
designated by R 8 or R 7 — I should include George 
Champlin [R. I.]; Charles Humphreys and Joseph 
Montgomery [Pa.]; Edward Giles and John Rogers 
[Md.]; William Cumming, John Swann, Ephraim Bre- 



264 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

vard, Joseph McDowell and John Stokes [N. C] ; Henry 
Middleton [S. C.]; and John Walton [Ga.]. 

In classifying these names as very rare, and in all 
other classifications, I must be understood as speak- 
ing of full autograph letters or documents, or, at least, 
of a good letter merely signed. The designation would 
not be correct as applied, for example, to the Colonial 
paper money signed by Charles Humphreys in Penn- 
sylvania and by Henry Middleton in South Carolina. 

The rare names — such as would be in the R 6 or 
R 5 classification — may well include Samuel Rhoads 
[Pa.]; John Cooper [N. J.]; John Evans and John 
Patten [Del.]; Thomas Adams, Richard Bland, and 
Merewether Smith [Va.]; Thomas Person [N. C.]; and 
Thomas Lynch and John Parker [S. C.]. 

A small number of the remaining names may 
properly be called scarce; but it is scarcely necessary to 
particularize them. 

Mr. Young. May I ask you to go further, and 
give me the same kind of information about names 
that occur in the Albany Convention and the Stamp 
Act Congress Series, as well as in the series of Mem- 
bers of the Federal Convention and Generals of the 
Revolutionary War? 

Mr. Old. In the Albany Convention Series the 
rare names — for A. L. S. — are Roger Wolcott, Jun. 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 265 

[Conn.], and Martin Howard, Jun. [R. I.]; and the 
extremely rare name is Abraham Barnes [Md.]. By the 
way, it must not be forgotten that there was another 
Abraham Barnes, also a Maryland man, who was 
contemporary with the member of the Convention; 
and care must be taken not to accept him in place of 
the right man. 

In the Stamp Act Congress Series there is one 
extremely rare name; that of William Murdock of 
Maryland. Three names — those of Timothy Ruggles 
[Mass.], David Rowland [Conn.], and Thomas Lynch 
[S. C] — may properly be called rare. You must guard 
against being deceived by a letter of a certain Thomas 
Lynch, a merchant of the city of Xew York, who was 
a contemporary of the right Lynch. 

In the series of Signers of the Constitution of the 
U. S. and Members of the Federal Convention, no 
names occur that are extremely rare. Of names that 
are rare I can specify Robert H. Harrison [Md.], John 
Blair [Ya.], Willie Jones [X. C], and William Houstoun 
[GaJ. 

In the series of Generals of the Revolutionary War, 
the extremely rare names are Philippe Du Coudray, 
the Chevalier de Roche Fermoy, and the Chevalier de 
la Neuville. They are not represented in any of the 
collections, laree or small, that have been sold at 



266 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

auction during the last fifty years. A letter signed by 
Baron de Woedtke has appeared once, and once only, 
in a sale catalogue. An A. L. S. is unknown. 

Among the very rare names I should class John 
Stark and Israel Putnam [in the form of A. L. S.], 
Count Pulaski, Andrew Lewis, Francis Nash, James 
Hogun, and the Chevalier De Preudhomme De Borre. 

The rare names would include Richard Mont- 
gomery, John Thomas, Thomas Conway, the Baron de 
Kalb, Seth Pomeroy, James Moore, John Philip De 
Haas, Ebenezer Learned, and Hugh Mercer. 

Names of certain generals that are of common 
occurrence, but are much sought for — such as Wash- 
ington, Benedict Arnold, Anthony Wayne, and Na- 
thanael Greene — would be designated as recherche by 
a French dealer. 

Having answered all your questions, I want to 
say that the conclusions I have expressed in regard 
to rarity are based on an experience covering very 
many years; during which time I have had in my 
hands and have carefully examined all the catalogues 
of public or private sales of autographs that have been 
issued in the United States. Some collectors will, 
perhaps, differ with me in regard to certain names, 
which they may think should have received either a 
higher or a lower mark of rarity. Some may think 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 267 

I have named too many — others that I have not named 
enough. Such differences of opinion are most natural, 
and are bound to exist. 

Let me, however, impress upon you the fact that 
substantial changes in the degrees of rarity I have 
noted may easily happen within any decade. Names 
that have long been sought, either totally or very 
largely in vain, may emerge from sources hitherto un- 
known, be placed on the market, and thus lose their 
rarity. Other names, that are now merely scarce or 
rare, may become very rare by the failure of an ade- 
quate supply of them. I can cite instances of such 
changes in years gone by. Fifty or sixty years ago no 
collector had ever seen an autograph of William 
Clingan, a Pennsylvania member of the Continental 
Congress and a Signer of the Articles of Confederation. 
Mr. Cist expressed the opinion that if any man of this 
name had been a member of the Congress, he would 
have left some written sign of his existence. Dr. 
Sprague came to the conclusion that the name was a 
misprint for William Bingham. So it happened that 
this void in the series remained unfilled until 1876, 
or perhaps 1880; when, among a large quantity of 
papers of the Revolutionary period discovered in a 
long-unused room in the Capitol at Harrisburg, many 
letters and documents of Clingan were found. Of 



268 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

course no collection was thereafter without this name. 
Simon Boerum is another instance of the same 
kind. Up to the time when Mr. Danforth unearthed, 
in a County Surrogate's office, dozens of official auto- 
graphs — documents — signed of this absolutely obscure 
man, any paper in his handwriting would have been a 
rarity of rarities. For years and years the name was 
totally unprocurable. Then, when Dr. Emmet was 
so fortunate as to secure a large D. S. at a correspond- 
ingly large price, collectors thought he had become 
the owner of something almost unique. Now, every 
collector who wanted this autograph has it; and it is 
a drug on the market, though the dealers still hold it 
at a pretty stiff price because once upon a time it sold 
at ?200. 

As an instance of great increase in rarity, let me 
tell you a little story about the letters and manu- 
scripts gathered by Gov. David L. Swain, of North 
Carolina, with the intention of using them in the prep- 
aration of a history of his native State. He succeeded 
in getting together a very large amount of material of 
great autographic, as well as historical, interest and 
value, including many letters of Signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, Generals of the Revolutionary 
War, etc. During the latter part of the Civil War, 
Dr. Charles G. Barney, a Northerner by birth, who 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 269 

had married a Southern lady and had become a resi- 
dent of Richmond, Va., heard of these papers. He 
was a collector in a small way and had some knowledge 
of the rarity of certain letters. So he paid a visit to 
Gov. Swain, and requested permission to examine 
them for historical purposes. It was granted; and he 
became the possessor of hundreds of letters which had 
come from the correspondence of William Hooper, 
Joseph Hewes, John Penn, and Samuel Johnston. He 
had a large number of letters of each of the North 
Carolina Signers, with fine historical contents, which 
he brought to the North, immediately after the close 
of the war, and sold to collectors and dealers at $20 
per letter. There were other gems obtained from the 
same source, for which he received prices depending 
upon the number of specimens in his hands. It took 
him five or six years to dispose of his entire supply. 
If collectors had considered the fact that, with the 
exhaustion of this supply, letters of these Signers would 
again become rare, a better appreciation of their pe- 
cuniary value would have been entertained. To-day, 
all of them are considered rare, and their money value 
is vastly greater than it was from 1865 to 1880. 

Arthur Middleton, one of the South Carolina 
Signers, may also be mentioned as an instance of an 
autograph which was once, for a time, quite plentiful, 



270 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

but afterwards became very rare. In the year 1860 
a bundle of drafts signed by Middleton and some of 
his colleagues in the Continental Congress, dated in 
1781 and 1782, and written on one half of a 4to sheet 
of paper, came to light in Philadelphia. They were 
offered for sale at $5 each, and were greedily taken by 
collectors, nearly all of whom needed this autograph. 
After the collectors had been fully supplied, the sur- 
plus went to dealers. In 1886, at the Cist sale, one 
of these drafts sold for 315. Five years later, at the 
Lefnngwell sale, the price advanced to #140. To-day 
it would be much more. 



Sixth Conversation. 

Mr. Young. A friend of mine who is interested, 
as I am, in collecting letters of American poets, and 
who has most of the important names, asked me, a 
few days ago, if I had autographs of Philip Pendleton 
Cooke, Lucy Hooper, Edward C. Pinkney, and the 
Davidson sisters. I told him that I hadn't any of 
them, and I frankly confessed that, with the exception 
of Cooke, the names were unfamiliar to me. Since 
then I have looked into Duyckinck's "Cyclopedia of 
American Literature," where I find quite lengthy 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 271 

notices of all of them. Can you tell me anything in 
regard to the rarity of their autographs? 

Mr. Old. All the names you mention have honor- 
able places in the annals of American literature. While 
it is true that they are rarely mentioned nowadays, it 
is no less true that they were once well known and 
highly esteemed. A special interest, of a somewhat 
sad kind, attaches to them from the fact that they 
died when very young. The Davidson sisters — Lu- 
cretia Maria and Margaret Miller — furnish very re- 
markable instances of youthful precocity. Both of 
them died of consumption; Lucretia, one month be- 
fore reaching her seventeenth birthday, and Margaret, 
at the age of fifteen. The esteem in which Lucretia's 
poems were held was expressed by the English poet 
Southey in a laudatory notice in the Quarterly Review, 
in which he said: "In our own language, except in the 
cases of Chatterton and Kirke White, we can call to 
mind no instance of so early, so ardent, and so fatal 
a pursuit of intellectual advancement." Margaret's 
poems were introduced to the world by Washington 
Irving. She began to write when she was only six 
years old; and, according to her mother's statement, 
"she seemed to exist only in the regions of poetry." 

No letter of either of these sisters has ever ap- 
peared in a sale catalogue, nor is any known to exist in 



272 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

a public collection. Dr. Sprague, who lived in Albany 
and personally knew the Davidson family, was unable 
to obtain from Mrs. Davidson any autographic me- 
mentos of her gifted daughters other than a small 
manuscript poem, signed on the back, written by 
Lucretia, and a short note written and signed by Mar- 
garet. You may, therefore, consider their autographs 
as excessively rare. 

Next, in the order of rarity of the names we are 
considering, I should place Lucy Hooper. She, too, 
died when she was very young — only twenty-five. 
That she was regarded as a poet of much merit is evi- 
denced by the fact that, when her "Complete Poetical 
Works" were published in 1848, they contained lauda- 
tory verses by Whittier and Tuckerman. Her auto- 
graph was wanting in every collection that has yet 
been exposed to public sale, and may be classed as 
extremely rare. The same remark is true in regard to 
Edward C. Pinkney and Philip Pendleton Cooke; both 
of whom hold high rank among the minor poets. 
Pinkney, who died in his twenty-sixth year, was noted 
for the exquisite taste of his lyrics; and Cooke, who 
was only thirty-three at the time of his death, had 
established his reputation by his beautiful poems, of 
which "Florence Vane" is the best known. 

Mr. Young. Is it not true that, as a general rule, 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 273 

letters of our best known poets, though bringing high 
prices, are not rare? 

Mr. Old. You state what I believe to be a fact. 
I do not, at this moment, recall more than one name 
— that of Joseph Rodman Drake — that is an excep- 
tion to the rule. His letters are excessively rare; not 
more than two or three of them being known to exist 
in public or private collections. Here you have an- 
other instance of rarity due to early death; for you 
know that Drake did not survive his twenty-fifth year. 

Mr. Young. You told me, while speaking of the 
Davidson sisters, that Southey ranked them as the 
equals of Chatterton and Kirke White in poetical 
precocity. Are they, too, very rare names? 

Mr. Old. Thomas Chatterton's letters very sel- 
dom occur; and when one is offered for sale, the price 
asked for it is high, say from seventy-five to one hun- 
dred pounds. Remember that, unable to stand the 
conflict with the extreme poverty to which he was re- 
duced, he poisoned himself with arsenic when he was 
only eighteen years of age. Hence the rarity of his 
letters is readily accounted for. Henry Kirke White's 
letters fall much below Chatterton's in point of rarity 
and value. Still, as he died when in his twenty-first 
year, his letters must be rare. The last one that I 



274 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

remember to have seen in a sale catalogue was priced 
at fifteen pounds. 

Mr. Young. Changing the subject of conversa- 
tion, may I ask you if it is not an odd circumstance 
that certain literary names should be sought with such 
persistence, while others, of very positive merit, suffer 
comparative neglect? For instance, there seems to be 
a rage for letters of Eugene Field, Bret Harte, Lowell, 
James Whitcomb Riley, Bayard Taylor, Thoreau, and 
Walt Whitman. Why should they be more desirable 
than Longfellow, Bryant, Halleck, Holmes, T. Bu- 
chanan Read, Whittier, and others of nearly equal 
rank? 

Mr. Old. There is no way of accounting for the 
taste of collectors or for their preference for certain 
names. Something occurs to set the pace in a certain 
direction, and it keeps up while the vogue lasts. The 
same thing happens in England. Dickens, Thackeray, 
Stevenson, Meredith, and a few others, are special 
favorites at high prices; while little attention is 
paid to such excellent novelists as Anthony Trollope, 
Charles Reade, Charles Kingsley, Bulwer Lytton, 
Wilkie Collins, Dinah M. Craik, Stanley Weyman, 
and many others. It is easy to understand why Dick- 
ens should be such a prime favorite, and why his 
almost countless letters should have advanced so enor- 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 275 

mously in value within the last twenty or twenty-five 
years; but it would not be easy to give a reason — even 
a purely literary reason — for the autographic esteem 
accorded to some writers and denied to others of high 
rank. 

Seventh Conversation. 

Mr. Young. I am somewhat at a loss to deter- 
mine the best way to arrange and preserve the letters 
I have collected. My inquiries show me that col- 
lectors differ very much in their views on this ques- 
tion. A few of them mount their autographs in books; 
some have their letters inlaid, on Whatman paper, to 
a uniform folio size; while others place them loose in 
wrappers. Does your experience enable you to say 
which one of these modes is the best? 

Mr. Old. Individual tastes differ so widely that 
one must be careful in making an ex cathedra statement 
on the question you ask. As a general rule, however, 
I should say that autographs should never be mounted; 
that is, pasted down in books. When so placed, they 
are difficult to remove, in case you want to make a 
change; and, if you are not particular in regard to the 
kind of paste used, the letter may be injured. This 



276 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

is particularly true where gum arabic is used. It 
nearly always produces a serious discoloration. 

In recent times a few collectors have had their 
letters inlaid on large sheets, of uniform size, of What- 
man paper. I consider this a most objectionable mode 
to follow. When so inlaid, the letter is pasted down, 
by the edges, on all sides ; and then, in order to get rid 
of the extra thickness on the parts where the letter 
and the Whatman paper unite, the edges of the letter 
are pared down. Its margins are thus weakened; and 
small portions of words on the right hand side, the top, 
and the bottom of the letter, are not unfrequently 
scraped away. The pecuniary value of a letter which 
has been so treated is much lessened thereby. I have 
no hesitation in expressing my unqualified disapproval 
of such inlaying. It is justifiable only where the let- 
ters are to be bound together in a volume; and even 
then a much better plan is to attach the letters to the 
sheets on which they are laid by means of a few small 
strips placed on their left sides, which serve as hinges. 

What, then, is the best mode to adopt? Nearly 
all of the leading American collectors have followed 
the custom, pursued by the principal European col- 
lectors, of placing their autographs loose in boxes, 
arranged in series. Some have used wrappers; others 
have not done so. The most noted French and Ger- 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 277 

man collectors have had handsome wrappers, of spe- 
cial design, containing their coats of arms, in which 
their letters were placed, accompanied by a portrait 
of the person whose autograph is enclosed. The addi- 
tion of a portrait gives enhanced interest to the letter. 
The two together bring you in much closer contact 
with the writer than either one would separately. 
The splendid collection of Alfred Bovet was thus ar- 
ranged, and several fine portraits frequently accom- 
panied a letter or document. All things considered, 
I regard this mode of keeping autographs as by far the 
best. 

Mr. Young. I have been reading, with great 
pleasure, Mr. Joline's delightful "Meditations of an 
Autograph Collector." The concluding words of the 
book impressed me very much. He says, as you 
probably remember: "No one will ever be as fond of 
my pets as I have been, and at no distant day they will 
be scattered among the bidders at the inevitable auc- 
tion-sale which awaits all collections save only those 
consigned to perpetual burial in some library. My 
own association with them will be lost and forgotten. 
I look upon them almost as one might upon the chil- 
dren whom he must leave behind him. They, how- 
ever, may remember, while our cherished autographs 
and books, in serene unconsciousness, will be forever 



278 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

unmindful of the fondness which has been lavished 
upon them. A rare book will now and then retain 
the record of a tender and devoted ownership, but an 
autograph seldom recalls the memory of a chance 
possessor. None the less dear to me are these relics 
of the leaders of life and of literature. Some one 
will preserve them, and perhaps may fondle them as 
I have done. I trust that they may come under the 
protecting care of a true collector, a real antiquary — 
no mere bargain-hunter, no 'snapper up of uncon- 
sidered trifles/ but one endowed with the capacity 
to appreciate whatever things are worthy of the af- 
fection of the lover of letters and of history." There 
is such a decided tone of sadness in these words; such 
an expression of regret that his autographic treasures 
must eventually pass into other hands; that I fail to 
see why, if he wanted to prevent such a fate from over- 
taking them, he did not prefer to keep them together 
and give them what he calls "perpetual burial in some 
library." There, at least, they would bear his name, 
preserve his memory, and give pleasure and instruc- 
tion to the select few who, in future years,^ would ask 
to see and examine them. I can understand, of course, 
why the needs of a man's family might make it im- 
perative that his collection should be sold; but, in the 
case of Mr. Joline, I am told that no such needs existed. 




A. H. JOLINE 



TALKS ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 279 

Mr. Old. There is enough pathos in Mr. Joline's 
lament to stir the heart of any collector who, like him, 
has a positive affection for his manuscript possessions. 
The true collector is generally a man of education and 
refinement, who, until the close of his days, follows 
his hobby with a real love for it. There is pleasure- 
able occupation for a long life in gathering a truly 
representative collection of letters of the great men 
and women of past and present times. From day to 
day, month to month, year to year, these memorials 
of the dead and the living fall, one by one, into his 
hands, rewarding his earnest search and patient wait- 
ing. He gives them his affectionate care. They be- 
come dear to him, as his constant companions. They 
give him joy in many a weary hour. They almost 
become part of his existence. How any man whose 
pecuniary means would enable him to keep these 
silent and constant friends from being sold and sepa- 
rated can consent to have them scattered to the four 
winds of heaven, never again to be reunited as mem- 
bers of a family, is something I cannot understand. 
Mr. Dreer gave his valuable collection, to the forma- 
tion of which he had given fully sixty years of his life, 
to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in order 
that it might be there preserved for all time, bearing 
his name. He told me that he could not endure the 



280 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

thought of its dispersal. Dr. Fogg left his manu- 
script possessions to the Maine Historical Society. 
Lyman C. Draper gave the great mass of papers, which 
he spent years in collecting, to the Historical Society 
of Wisconsin. Dr. Sprague was anxious that his im- 
mense collection should not be scattered after his 
death; and his family saw that this wish was met when 
they determined to sell the collection as a whole to 
some one who would keep it together. 

No one will doubt the truth of Mr. Joline's thought 
that his "cherished autographs, in serene unconscious- 
ness, will be forever unmindful of the fondness which 
has been lavished upon them" — for they are inani- 
mate. But I cannot agree with him that "an auto- 
graph seldom recalls the memory of a chance pos- 
sessor." The statement is probably true in the case 
of common letters and such as are without historical 
or personal interest or have not had a place in a col- 
lection of note; but letters that are rare or that have 
important contents, often carry with them the story 
of the different hands through which they have passed. 
Alfred Bovet loved the pieces that came from cele- 
brated collections; and the beautiful and remarkable 
catalogue prepared by Etienne Charavay indicates 
the sources from which many of his autographs came. 
The names of Baron de Tremont, Lucas de Montigny, 



BOOK OF FACSIMILES 281 

Chambry, Benjamin Fillon, Alfred Sensier, Dubrun- 
faut, and others, frequently occur as former owners of 
pieces named in the catalogue. 

The collection of the Prince de Ligne contained a 
drawing, sketched in pen and ink, by Raphael Sanzio, 
the superb painter, of two heads of horses, with the 
arms of men, and five lines in his handwriting, dated 
1510. At his sale, this drawing passed into the hands 
of Comte de Fries; thence to the collection of Prof. 
Bohm, of Vienna; thence to Mr. Donnadieu, who had 
bought it, for 1000 francs, from a Mons. Hertz; and 
thence to Baron de Tremont. You see, from this 
illustration, that an autograph may, and often does, 
recall the memory of a former possessor. 

There is one other statement of Mr. Joline's to 
which I cannot accede. He speaks of "the inevitable 
auction-sale which awaits all collections save only 
those consigned to perpetual burial in some library. ,, 
Mr. Joline's experience in regard to collections given 
to Historical Societies and libraries must have been 
an unfortunate one; otherwise he would not have 
spoken of them in words which imply that they are 
forever hidden from sight. The truth is that they are 
always open for the inspection of those who want to 
see them as mere curiosities, and for the use of those 



282 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

who wish, for historical or literary purposes, to ex- 
amine their contents. 

So, while I am in full accord with Mr. Joline in 
his expressions of affection for the "pets" of a lifetime, 
I must disagree with him in his view of what is their 
natural and inevitable fate. 



APPENDIX A, 

List of Books Containing Facsimiles of Auto- 
graph Letters or of Mere Signatures. 

British Autography y a Collection of Fac-Similes of 
the Handwriting of Royal and Illustrious Personages, 
with their Authentic Portraits. By John Thane. 
Small 4to, 3 volumes. 

Autographs of Royal, Noble, Learned and Re- 
markable Personages Conspicuous in English History 
from the reign of Richard the Second to that of Charles 
the Second; with some Illustrious Foreigners; contain- 
ing many passages from important letters. Engraved 
under the direction of Charles John Smith. Accom- 
panied by concise biographical memoirs and inter- 
esting extracts from the original documents, by John 
Gough Nichols. Folio. London, 1829. [A very val- 
uable work.] 



284 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Autographs of the Kings and Queens, and Emi- 
nent Men, of Great Britain, from the 14th century to 
the present period. Being Fac-Similes taken from 
original documents by J. Netherclift. Oblong folio. 
London, 1835. 

Autograph Letters, Characteristic Extracts and 
Signatures, from the Correspondence of Illustrious 
and Distinguished Women of Great Britain, from the 
XIV th to the XIX th Century. Collected and copied 
in Fac-Simile from Original Documents by J. Nether- 
clift. Folio. London, 1838. 

Isographie des Hommes Celebres, ou Collection 
de Fac-Simile de Lettres Autographes et de Signatures. 
4 volumes, 4to. Paris, 1843. [An invaluable work 
to a collector.] 

Collection of One Hundred Characteristic and 
Interesting Autograph Letters, written by Royal and 
Distinguished Persons of Great Britain, from the XV. 
to the XVIII. centuries. By J. Netherclift and Son, 
1849. [An instructive work.] 

The Autograph Miscellany: A Collection of Auto- 
graph Letters, Interesting Documents, etc. By F. 
Netherclift, 1855. 



BOOK OF FACSIMILES 285 

Sale Catalogue of the manuscript library of the 
late Dawson Turner, Esq. Puttick and Simpson, 
1859. [Contains many important facsimiles.] 

American Historical and Literary Curiosities: Con- 
sisting of Fac-Similes of some plates, &c, relating to 
Columbus, and Original Documents of the Revolu- 
tion, &c, &c, with a variety of Reliques, Antiquities 
and Autographs. Edited and arranged, with the 
assistance of several autograph collectors, by John 
Jay Smith. Second Series. Folio. New York: 
Charles B. Richardson, 1860. 

The Book of the Signers: Containing Fac-Simile 
Letters of the Signers of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Edited by William Brotherhead. 4to. Phil- 
adelphia, 1861. 

The Autograph Souvenir: A Collection of Auto- 
graph Letters, etc., selected from the British Museum 
and other Sources by F. G. Netherclift. With notes 
by R. Sims, of the British Museum. 

American Historical and Literary Curiosities: Con- 
sisting of Fac-Similes of Original Documents relating 
to the events of the Revolution, &c, &c. Collected 



286 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

and edited by John Jay Smith and John F. Watson. 
Folio. Sixth edition; with improvements and addi- 
tions. New York: G. P. Putnam, 1861. 

The Autograph Mirror: Autographic Letters and 
Sketches of Illustrious and Distinguished Men of past 
and present times: Sovereigns, Statesmen, Warriors, 
Divines; Historians, Lawyers; Literary, Scientific, 
Artistic and Theatrical Celebrities. 4to. London 
and New York: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. 

Album de Fac-Simile des Regents, Capitaines, et 
Hommes D'Etat depuis L'An 1500 Jusqu' en 1576. 
Dessines sur les Originaux et Expliques par Charles 
Oberleitner. 4to. Vienne, 1862. 

The Hand-Book of Autographs: Being a Ready 
Guide to the Handwriting of Distinguished Men and 
Women of every Nation. Designed for the use of 
literary men, autograph collectors, and others. By 
Frederick G. Netherclift. With a Biographical In- 
dex, etc., by Richard Sims, of the British Museum. 
London, John RussellfSmith, 1862. 

The Autographic Mirror: L'Autographe Cosmopo- 
lite. Inedited autographs of illustrious and dis- 
tinguished men[of past and present times. Sovereigns, 



BOOK OF FACSIMILES 287 

Statesmen, Warriors, Divines, Historians, Lawyers, 
Literary, Scientific, Artistic and Theatrical Celebrities. 
Lithographed by Vincent Brooks, Chandos St., Char- 
ing Cross, London. Large folio. Vol. 1. Published 
Feb. 20, 1864. 

The same. Volume 2. 

The Autographic Album: A collection of four hun- 
dred and seventy fac-similes of Holograph writings of 
Royal, Noble, and Distinguished Men and Women of 
various Nations. With biographical notices, and oc- 
casional translations. By Lawrence B. Phillips, F. R. 
A. S. Lithographed by F. G. Netherclift. Small 4to. 
London, 1866. 

The Centennial Book of the Signers: Being Fac- 
simile Letters of each Signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. By W. Brotherhead, Librarian. Folio, 
295 pages. Philadelphia: J. M. Stoddart & Co., 1875. 

Inventaire des Autographes et Documents Historiques 
Reunis par M. Benjamin Fillon. Decrits par Etienne 
Charavay. 3 volumes, 4to. Paris, 1878. [Filled with 
fac-similes of letters and signatures.] 

Lettres Autographes composant la Collection de 
M. Alfred Bovet, Decrites par Etienne Charavay. 



288 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

A Paris. Librarie Charavay Freres. 1887. 4to, 880 
pages. [Very valuable for its numerous fac-similes of 
letters and documents.] 

Catalogue of the Collection of Alfred Morrison. 
Six sumptuous volumes, large 4to, filled with full page 
fac-similes. Printed for private distribution. 

Fac-Similes of Royal, Historical, Literary, and 
other Autographs in the Department of Mss., British 
Museum. Edited by George F. Warner. Series I-V, 
with ISO plates. Folio. 1899. 

English Court Hand: A. D. 1066 to 1500. Illus- 
trated chiefly from the Public Records. By Charles 
Johnson and Hilary Jenkinson. Text 1 vol. 8vo, and 
a royal folio volume containing 44 reproductions. 
Oxford, 1915. 

Catalogue of the Autograph Letters collected by 
Henry Huth, and sold by auction by Messrs. Sotheby, 
Wilkinson & Hodge, London, on June 12 and 13, 1911. 
[Contains many full-page fac-similes.) 



APPENDIX B. 

Convention of Commissioners to Confer with 
the Six Nations and Other Friendly Indians 
on Offensive and Defensive Measures against 
the French and the Indians Acting with 
Them. Held at Albany, October 5, 1745. 

Commissioners from New York. 
Governor George Clinton. \ 

Philip Livingston. I Members of the Execu- 

Daniel Horsmanden. > tive Council of New 

Joseph Murray. \ York. 

John Rutherford. / 

Commissioners from Massachusetts. 
Col. John Stoddard. 
Jacob Wendell. 
Thomas Berry. 
John Choate. 
Thomas Hutchinson. 



290 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Commissioners from Connecticut. 

Roger Wolcott. 

Col. Nathaniel Stanley. 

Commissioners from Pennsylvania. 

Thomas Lawrence. 
John Kinsey. 
Isaac Norris. 



APPENDIX C. 

Delegates to the Convention Held at Albany, 

in 1754. 



New York. 



Massachusetts. 



New Hampshire. 



James Delancey. 
Joseph Murray. 
Sir William Johnson. 
John Chambers. 
William Smith, Sen. 
Samuel Welles. 
John Chandler. 
Thomas Hutchinson. 
Oliver Partridge. 
John Worthington. 
Theodore Atkinson. 
Richard Wibird. 
Mesech Weare. 
Henry Sherburne, Jun. 



292 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Connecticut. 

Rhode Island, 
Pennsylvania. 



Maryland. 



William Pitkin. 
Roger Wolcott, Jim. 
Elisha Williams. 
Stephen Hopkins. 
Martin Howard, Jun. 
John Penn. 
Benjamin Franklin. 
Richard Peters. 
Isaac Norris. 
Benjamin Tasker. 
Abraham Barnes. 



APPENDIX D. 

Delegates to the Stamp Act Congress, Held in 

1765. 



Massachusetts. 

Rhode Island. 
Connecticut. 

New York. 



New Jersey. 



James Otis, Jun. 
Oliver Partridge. 
Timothy Ruggles. 
Metcalf Bowler. 
Henry Ward. 
Eliphalet Dyer. 
David Rowland. 
William Samuel Johnson. 
Robert R. Livingston, Sen, 
John Cniger. 
Philip Livingston. 
William Bayard. 
Leonard Lispenard. 
Robert Ogden. 
Hendrick Fisher. 
Joseph Borden. 



294 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 


Pennsylvania. 


John Dickinson. 




John Morton. 




George Bryan. 


Delaware. 


Thomas McKean. 




Caesar Rodney. 


Maryland. 


William Murdock. 




Edward Tilghman. 




Thomas Ringgold. 


South Carolina. 


Thomas Lynch. 




Christopher Gadsden. 




John Rutledge. 



APPENDIX E. 

Delegates to the Continental Congress 
of 1774. 



Peyton Randolph, President. 

New Hampshire. John Sullivan. 

Nathaniel Folsom. 
Massachusetts. Thomas Cushing. 

Samuel Adams. 

James Bowdoin. (Did not attend.) 

John Adams. 

Robert Treat Paine. 
Rhode Island. Stephen Hopkins. 

Samuel Ward. 
Connecticut. Eliphalet Dyer. 

William Samuel Johnson. (Did not 
attend*) 

Erastus Wolcott. (Did not attend.) 

Roger Sherman. 



296 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Richard Law. (Did not attend) 

Silas Deane. 

Joseph Trumbull. (Did not attend.) 
New York. Isaac Low. 

John Haring. (Did not attend.) 

John Alsop. 

John Jay. 

James Duane. 

Philip Livingston. 

William Floyd. 

Henry Wisner. 

Simon Boerum. 
New Jersey. James Kinsey. 

William Livingston. 

Stephen Crane. 

Richard Smith. 

John DeHart. 
Pennsylvania. Joseph Galloway. 

John Dickinson. 

Charles Humphreys. 

Thomas Mifflin. 

Edward Biddle. 

John Morton. 

George Ross. 

Samuel Rhoads. (Did not attend.) 



COXGRESS OF 1774 



297 



Delaware. 



Maryland. 



Virginia. 



North Carolina, 



South Carolina. 



Caesar Rodney. 
Thomas McKean. 
George Read. 
Robert Goldsborough, 

attend.) 
Matthew Tilghman. 
John Rogers. 
Thomas Johnson, Jr. 
William Paca. 
Samuel Chase. 
Richard Henry Lee. 
Peyton Randolph. 
George Washington. 
Patrick Henry, Jr. 
Richard Bland. 
Benjamin Harrison. 
Edmund Pendleton. 
William Hooper. 
Joseph Hewes. 
Richard Caswell. 
Henry Middleton. 
Thomas Lynch. 
Christopher Gadsden. 
John Rutledge. 
Edward Rutledse. 



(Did not 



APPENDIX F. 

Presidents of the Continental Congress. 

Elected 

Peyton Randolph. Sept. 5, 1774. 

Henry Middleton. Oct. 22, 1774. 

Peyton Randolph. May 10, 1775. 

John Hancock. May 24, 1775. 

Henry Laurens. Nov. 1, 1777. 

John Jay. Dec. 10, 1778. 

Samuel Huntington. Sept. 28, 1779. 

Samuel Johnston. July 9, 1781. 

[Note. On July 10 he declined to accept the 

election, for reasons that were satisfactory to the 
Congress.] 

Thomas McKean. July 10, 1781. 

John Hanson. Nov. 5, 1781. 

Elias Boudinot. Nov. 4, 1782. 

Thomas Mifflin. Nov. 3, 1783. 



PRESIDENTS OF CONGRESS 299 

Richard Henry Lee. Nov. 30, 1784. 

John Hancock. Nov. 23, 1785. 

[Note. Illness prevented him from serving, and 
he resigned on June 5, 1786.] 

Nathaniel Gorham. June 6, 1786. 

Arthur St. Clair. Feb. 2, 1787. 

Cyrus Griffin. Jan. 22, 1788. 

Note. The following named members of the Con- 
tinental Congress were elected Chairmen [Presidents 
pro tem.] of Congress, to preside during the absence 
of the President. 

John Rutledge. Sept. 8, 1783. 

Daniel Carroll. April 15, 1782. Sept. 9, 

1783. Nov. 3, 1783. 

Thomas Jefferson. March 12, 1784. 

Thomas Stone. June 1, 1784. 

Samuel Holten. Aug. 17, 1785. 

David Ramsay. Nov. 23, 1785. 

[He served until May 15, 1786, during the long 
absence of John Hancock, caused by his illness.] 

Nathaniel Gorham. May 15, 1786. 

[He served until the first Monday of June, 1786.] 

Lambert Cadwalader. Feb. 19, 1787. 

William Grayson. July 4, 1787. 



APPENDIX G. 

Revolutionary Cabinets. 

Comprising the names of the persons who were 
elected or appointed by the Continental Congress to 
administer the affairs of the departments of State, 
Finance, War, Navy, and the Post Office during the 
Revolutionary War and up to the time when the Con- 
stitution of the United States became operative. 

Department of State. 

Secretary for foreign affairs. 
Aug. 10, 1781. Robert R. Livingston. 
May 7, 1784. John Jay. 



REVOLUTIONARY CABINETS 301 

Department of Finance. 

Board of Treasury. Commissioners of the Board 
of Treasury. 

July 23, 1776. George Clymer. Served until May 8, 

1777. 

Feb. 6, 1777. Mann Page, Jr. 

Jonathan Elmer. 

March 22, 1777. Jonathan Bayard Smith. 
Lewis Morris. 

May 8, 1777. George Walton. 

Aug. 12, 1777. Henry Laurens. 

Nathaniel Folsom. 
Cornelius Harnett. 
Eliphalet Dyer. 

Dec. 3, 1777. Francis Dana. 

Benjamin Rumsey. 
Joseph Jones. 

June 9, 1778. Thomas Heyward, Jr. 

Henry Marchant. 
John Wentworth. 
Roger Sherman. 

Feb. 24, 1779. Frederick Frelinghuysen. 



302 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Nov. 9, 1779. Ezekiel Forman. Resigned July 24, 

1781. 
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. 
William Churchill Houston. 
William Sharpe. 
Nov. 25, 1779. John Gibson. 

Dec. 13, 1779. William Floyd, vice William Sharpe. 
April 28, 1780. William Denning. 
May 9, 1780. James Duane, vice William Churchill 

Houston. Declined the election. 
May 10, 1780. James Henry. 
June 23, 1780. Roger Sherman. 
July 7, 1780. Edward Telfair, vice James Henry. 

Dec. 4, 1780. Oliver Wolcott. Excused from serv- 

ing. 
June 3, 1784. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer. 

Oliver Ellsworth. 

William Denning. Declined the ap- 
pointment. 
Jan. 25, 1785. John Lewis Gervais. Declined the 

election. 
Samuel Osgood. 
Walter Livingston. 
July 27, 1785. Arthur Lee. 

Feb. 20, 1781. Robert Morris was elected Superin- 
tendent of Finance. 



REVOLUTIONARY CABINETS 303 

Department of War. 

Board of War and Ordinance. Board of War. 
Commissioners for the Board of War. Secretaries at 
War. 

Board of War and Ordinance. 

June 13, 1776. John Adams. 

Roger Sherman. 

Benjamin Harrison. 

James Wilson. 

Edward Rutledge. 
Sept. 11, 1776. Francis Lightfoot Lee. 
March 26, 1777. George Clymer. 
May 8, 1777. Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 

July 2, 1777. William Duer. 



Board of War. 

Nov. 7, 1777. Maj. Gen. Thomas Mifflin. 

Col. Timothy Pickering. 

Col. Robert H. Harrison. 
Nov. 17, 1777. Francis Dana. 

Jonathan Bayard Smith. 
Jan. 14, 1778. Edward Langworthy. 
Dec. 22, 1778. Jesse Root, vice Roger Sherman, 



304 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

April 8, 1779. Joseph Spencer, vice Francis Light- 
foot Lee. 
Samuel J. Atlee, vice Jesse Root. 

Sept. 27, 1779. Jesse Root, vice Joseph Spencer. 

Nov. 23, 1779. Robert R. Livingston, vice Sam. 

J. Atlee. 

April 6, 1780. John Morin Scott. 
John Matthews. 

June 23, 1780. Gen. Artemas Ward, vice John Mat- 
thews. 

Dec. 29, 1780. John Matthews. 

Commissioners for the Board of War. 

Nov. 27, 1777. Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, President. 

Joseph Trumbull. 

Richard Peters. 
Jan. 12, 1778. Maj. Gen. Thomas Mifflin. 
June 22, 1779. Maj. Gen. William Heath. 

[On July 27, 1779, he asked to be excused.] 
Dec. 7, 1779. Col. William Grayson. 

Dec. 29, 1780. Ezekiel Cornell. 

Secretaries at War. 
Oct. 30, 1781. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. 



REVOLUTIONARY CABINETS 305 

Nov. 19, 1781. Richard Peters was authorized to 

continue to exercise the duties of 
the War Department until the 
Secretary at War shall enter upon 
the execution of his office. 

March 8, 1785. Henry Knox. 

Navy Department. 

Continental Navy Board. Commissioners of the 
Board of Admiralty. Secretary of Marine. Agent of 
Marine. 

Continental Navy Board. 

Nov. 6, 1776. John Nixon. 

John Wharton. Resigned Jan. 11, 

1781. 
Francis Hopkinson. 

Board of Assistants to the Marine Committee for the 
Eastern Department. 

May 6, 1777. William Vernon. 

James Warren. 

John Deshon. Resigned May 7, 
1781. 



306 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

For the Middle Department. 

May 9, 1778. William Smith. Resigned July 22, 

1778. 
Aug. 19, 1778. Capt. Nathaniel Falconer. Declined. 
James Searle. Resigned Sept. 28, 
1778. 
Nov. 4, 1778. James Read. 

John Wharton. 
William Winder. 



Commissioners of the Board of Admiralty. 

Nov. 26, 1779. Thomas Waring. Declined the elec- 
tion. 
William Whipple. Resigned March 
7, 1780. 
Dec. 3, 1779. George Bryan. Declined the elec- 

tion. 
William Floyd. Resigned. 
James Forbes. 
Dec. 7, 1779. Francis Lewis. Resigned July 17, 

1781. 
Dec. 8, 1779. William Ellery. 

March 22, 1780. James Madison. On account of the 

illness of James Forbes. 



REVOLUTIONARY CABIXETS 307 

June 6, 1780. Whitmill Hill. 

Benjamin Huntington. 
June 23, 1780. Thomas Woodford. 
Nov. 7, 1780. John Hanson. 

William Sharpe. 
[On Dec. 3, 1779. John Brown was elected Secre- 
tary of the Board of Admiralty, and he was the actual 
head of the Continental Navy during the remainder of 
the war.] 

Secretary of Marine. 
Feb. 27, 1781. Maj. Gen. Alexander McDougall. 

Agent of Marine. 

Sept. 7, 1781. Robert Morris [as Superintendent of 

Finance], until the close of the war. 



Post Office Department. 
Postmasters-general. 

July 26, 1775. Benjamin Franklin. 
Nov. 7, 1776. Richard Bache. 

Jan. 28, 1782. Ebenezer Hazard. 



APPENDIX H. 



Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 



New Hampshire. 



Massachusetts Bay. 



Rhode Island. 



Connecticut. 



New York. 



Josiah Bartlett. 
William Whipple. 
Matthew Thornton, 
Samuel Adams. 
John Adams. 
Robert Treat Paine. 
Elb ridge Gerry. 
Stephen Hopkins. 
William Ellery. 
Roger Sherman. 
Samuel Huntington. 
William Williams. 
Oliver Wolcott. 
William Floyd. 
Philip Livingston. 
Francis Lewis. 
Lewis Morris. 



SIGNERS OF DECLARATION 



309 



New Jersey. 



Pennsylvania. 



Delaware. 



Maryland. 



Virginia. 



Richard Stockton. 

John Witherspoon. 

Francis Hopkinson. 

John Hart. 

Abraham Clark. 

Robert Morris. 

Benjamin Rush. 

Benjamin Franklin. 

John Morton. 

George Clymer. 

James Smith. 

George Taylor. 

James Wilson. 

George Ross. 

Caesar Rodney. 

George Read. 

Thomas McKean. 

Samuel Chase. 

Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 

William Paca. 

Thomas Stone. 

George Wythe. 

Richard Henry Lee. 

Thomas Jefferson. 

Benjamin Harrison. 

Thomas Nelson, Jr. 



310 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



North Carolina. 



South Carolina, 



Georgia. 



Francis Lightfoot Lee. 
Carter Braxton. 
William Hooper. 
Joseph Hewes. 
John Penn. 
Edward Rutledge. 
Thomas Heyward, Jr. 
Thomas Lynch, Jr. 
Arthur Middleton. 
Button Gwinnett. 
Lyman Hall. 
George Walton. 



APPENDIX I. 
Delegates to the Continental Congress. 

[Note. The names printed in italics are those of delegates who either did 
not accept the appointment or did not attend any session of Congress.] 

Adams, Andrew, Conn. 

do John, Mass. 

do Samuel, Mass. 

do Thomas, Va. 
Alexander, Robert, Md. 
Allen, Andrew, Pa. 
Alsop, John, N. Y. 
Andrew, Benjamin, Ga. 
Armstrong, John, Sen., Pa. 
Armstrong, John, Jr., Pa. 
Arnold, Jonathan, R. I. 
Arnold, Peleg, R. I. 
Ashe, John B., N. C. 
Atlee, Samuel J., Pa. 
Atkinson, George, N. H. 



312 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Baldwin, Abraham, Ga. 

Banister, John, Va. 

Barnwell, Robert, S. C. Attended Jan. 1, 1789, 

Bartlett, Josiah, N. H. 

Bassett, Richard, Del. 

Bayard, John, Pa. 

Beatty, John, N. J. 

Bedford, Gunning, Sen., Del. 

Bedford, Gunning, Jr., Del. 

Bee, Thomas, S. C. 

Bellows, Benjamin, N. H., 1781. 

Benson, Egbert, N. Y. 

Beresford, Richard, S. C. 

Biddle, Edward, Pa. 

Bingham, William, Pa. 

Blair, John, Va., 1781. 

Blanchard, Jonathan, N. H. 

Bland, Richard, Va. 

do Theodoric, Va. 
Bloodworth, Timothy, N. C. 
Blount, William, N. C. 
Boerum, Simon, N. Y. 
Boudinot, Elias, N. J. 
Bowdoin, James, Mass. 
Bradford, William, R. I., 1776. 
Braxton, Carter, Va. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 313 

Brevard, Ephraim, N. C, 1781. 
Brown, John, R. I., 1784-5. 

do John, Mass. 
Brown, John, Va. 
Brownson, Xathan, Ga. 
Bull, John, S. C. 
Bulloch, Archibald, Ga. 
Burke, Thomas, N. C. 
Burnet, William, N. J. 
Burton, Robert, N. C. 
Butler, Pierce, S. C. 
Cadwalader, Lambert, N. J. 
Canfield, John, Conn, 1786-7. 
Carmichael, William, Md. 
Carrington, Edward, Va. 
Carroll, Charles, Barrister, Md., 1775. 

do Charles, of Carrollton, Md. 

do Daniel, Md. 
Caswell, Richard, N. C. 
Champlin, George, R. I., 1785-6. 
Chandler, Charles Church, Conn., 1784-5. 
Chase, Jeremiah T., Md. 

do Samuel, Md. 
Chester, John, Conn., 1787-9. 
Clark, Abraham, N. J. 
Clarkson, Matthew, Pa. 



314 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Clay, Joseph, Ga. 

Clingan, William, Pa. 

Clinton, George, N. Y. 

Clymer, George, Pa. 

Cocke, Willliam, State of Franklin. 

Collins, John, R. I. 

Condict, Silas, N. J. 

Con tee, Benjamin, Md. 

Cooke, Joseph P., Conn. 

Cooper, John, N. J. 

Cornell, Ezekiel, R. I. 

Coxe, Tench, Pa. 

Crane, Stephen, N. J. 

Cumming, William, N. C. 

Cushing, Nathan, Mass., 1784. 

Cushing, Thomas, Mass. 

Dalton, Tristram, Mass., 1783. Resigned 1784. 

Dana, Francis, Mass. 

Dane, Nathan, Mass. 

Danielson, Timothy, Mass., 1781-2. Resigned 1783, 

Dawson, John, Va. Attended Dec. 3, 1788. 

Dayton, Elias, N. J. 

do Jonathan, N. J. 
Deane, Silas, Conn. 
De Hart, John, N. J. 
De Witt, Charles, N. Y. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 315 

Dick, Samuel, N. J. 
Dickinson, John, Pa. 

do Philemon, Del. 

Dow, Moses, N. H., 1784. 
Drayton, William Henry, S. C. 
Duane, James, N. Y. 
Duer, William, N. Y. 
Duffield, Samuel, Pa. 
Dyer, Eliphalet, Conn. 
Edwards, Pierpont, Conn. 

Edwards, Timothy, Mass., 1778. Resigned 1779. 
Elbert, Gen, Samuel, Ga. 
Ellery, William, R. I. 
Ellsworth, Oliver, Conn. 
Elmer, Jonathan, N. J. 
Evans, John, Del. 
Eveleigh, Nicholas, S. C. 
Fell, John, N. J. 
Few, William, Ga. 
Fitzhugh, William, Va. 
Fitzsimons, Thomas, Pa. 
Fleming, William, Va. 
Floyd, William, N. Y. 
Folsom, Nathaniel, N. H. 
Forbes, James, Md. 
Forrest, Uriah, Md. 



316 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Foster, Abiel, N. H. 

Franklin, Benjamin, Pa. 

Frelinghuysen, Frederick, N. J. 

Frost, George, N. H. 

Gadsden, Christopher, S. C. 

Galloway, Joseph, Pa. 

Gansevoort, Leonard, N. Y. 

Gardner, John, R. I. Attended Feb. 12, 1789. 

Gardner, Joseph, Pa. 

Gardner, Sylvester, R. I., 1787. 

Gelston, David, N. Y. Attended Feb. 18, 1789. 

Gerry, Elbridge, Mass. 

Gervais, John Louis, S. C. 

Gibbons, William, Ga. 

Giles, Edward, Md. 

Gillon, Alexander, S. C., 1784. 

Gilman, John Taylor, N. H. 

Gilman, Nicholas, N. H. 

Goldsborough, Robert, Md. 

Gorham, Nathaniel, Mass. 

Grantham, Isaac, Del., 1787. 

Grayson, William, Va. 

Griffin, Cyrus, Va. 

Gunn, James, Ga., Feb. 10, 1787. 

Gwinnett, Button, Ga. 

Habersham, John, Ga. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 317 



Habersham, Joseph, Ga. 
Hall, John, Md. 
Hall, Lyman, Ga. 
Hamilton, Alexander, N. Y. 
Hancock, John, Mass. 
Hand, Edward, Pa. 
Hanson, John, Md. 
Hardy, Samuel, Va. 
Haring, John, N. Y. 
Harnett, Cornelius, N. C. 
Harrison, Benjamin, Va. 
do William, Md. 
Hart, John, N. J. 
Hartley, Thomas, Pa. 
Harvie, John, Va. 
Hathorn, John, N. Y. 
Hawkins, Benjamin, N. C. 
Hazard, Jonathan J., R. I. 
Hemsley, William, Md. 
Henderson, Thomas, N. J. 
Henry, James, Va. 

do John, Md. 

do Patrick, Va. 

do William, Pa. 
Hewes, Joseph, N. C. 
Heyward, Thomas, Jr., S. C. 



318 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Higginson, Stephen, Mass. 

Hill, Whitmill, N. C. 

Hillhouse, James, Conn., 1786-9. 

do William, Conn. 
Hindman, William, Md. 
Holden, Thomas, R. I., 1788-9. 
Holten, Samuel, Mass. 
Hooper, William, N. C. 
Hopkins, Stephen, R. I. 
Hopkinson, Francis, Pa. 
Hornblower, Josiah, N. J. 
Hosmer, Titus, Conn. 
Houston, William Churchill, N. J. 
Houstoun, John, Ga. 

do William, Ga. 

Howard, John E., Md. 
Howell, David, R. I. 
Howley, Richard, Ga. 
Huger, Daniel, S. C. 
Humphreys, Charles, Pa. 
Huntington, Benjamin, Conn. 

do Samuel, Conn. 

Hutson, Richard, S. C. 
Ingersoll, Jared, Pa. 
Irvine, William, Pa. 
Izard, Ralph, S. C. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 319 



Jackson, David, Pa. 

do Jonathan, Mass. 
Jay, John, N. Y. 
Jefferson, Thomas, Va. 
Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, Md. 
Johnson, Charles, N. C, 1786. 
Johnson, Thomas, Md. 

do William Samuel, Conn. 
Johnston, Samuel, N. C. 
Jones, Allen, N. C. 
Jones, Gabriel, Va., June 17, 1779. 

do Joseph, Va. 

do Noble W.,Ga. 
Jones, Samuel, N. Y. 

do Willie, N. C. 
Kean, John, S. C. 
Kearney, Dyre, Del. 
King, Rufus, Mass. 
Kinloch, Francis, S. C. 
Kinsey, James, N. J. 
Langdon, John, N. H. 

do Woodbury, N. H. 
Langworthy, Edward, Ga. 
Lansing, John, N. Y. 
Latimer, Henry, Del., April, 1784. 
Laurance, John, N. Y. 



320 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Laurens, Henry, S. C. 
Law, Richard, Conn. 
Lee, Arthur, Va. 

do Francis Lightfoot, Va. 

do Henry, Va. 

do Richard Bland, Va., 1780. 

do Richard Henry, Va. 

do Thomas Sim, Md. 
Lewis, Francis, N. Y. 
L'Hommedieu, Ezra, N. Y. 
Lincoln, Levi, Mass. 
Livermore, Samuel, N. H. 
Livingston, Philip, N. Y. 
do Robert R., N. Y. 

do Walter, N. Y. 

do William, N. J. 

Lloyd, Edward, Md. 

do James, Md. 
Long, Pierse, N. H. 
Lovell, James, Mass. 
Low, Isaac, N. Y. 
Lowell, John, Mass. 
Lowndes, Rawlins, S. C, 1779. 
Lynch, Thomas, Sen., S. C. 

do Thomas, Jr., S. C. 
McComb, Eleazer, Del. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 321 



McDougall, Alexander, N. Y. 
McDowell, Joseph, N. C, 1788. 
McHenry, James, Md. 
Mcintosh, Lachlan, Ga. 
McKean, Thomas, Pa. 
McKinly, John, Del., April, 1784. 
McLene, James, Pa. 
Macon, Nathaniel, N. C, 1787. 
Madison, James, Jr., Va. 
Manning, James, R. I. 
M anion, Daniel, R. I. 
Marchant, Henry, R. I. 
Martin, Alexander, N. C, 1787. 
Martin, Luther, Md. 
Mason, George, Va. 
Mathews, John, S. C. 
Matlack, Timothy, Pa. 
Mercer, James, Va. 

do John F., Va. 
Meredith, Samuel, Pa. 
Middleton, Arthur, S. C. 

do Henry, S. C. 
Mifflin, Thomas, Pa. 
Miller, Nathan, R. I. 
Mitchell, Nathaniel, Del. 

do Stephen Mix, Conn. 



322 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Monroe, James, Va. 
Montgomery, John, Pa. 
do Joseph, Pa. 

do William, Pa. 

Moore, William, Pa. 
Morris, Cadwalader, Pa. 

do Gouverneur, N. Y. 

do Lewis, N. Y. 

do Robert, Pa. 
Morton, John, Pa. 
Motte, Isaac, S. C. 
Mo wry, Daniel, R. I. 
Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus, Pa. 
Mumford, Paul, R. I., 1785. 
Nash, Abner, N. C. 
Neilson, John, N. J. 
Nelson, Thomas, Jr., Va. 
Osborne, Adlai, N. C, 1785. 
Osgood, Samuel, Mass. 
Otis, Samuel A., Mass. 
Paca, William, Md. 
Page, Mann, Jr., Va. 
Paine, Elisha, N. H. 

do Ephraim, N. Y. 

do Robert Treat, Mass. 
Parker, John, S. C. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 323 

Partridge, George, Mass. 
Paterson, William, N. J. 
Patten, John, Del. 
Patterson, Gen. Samuel, Del., 1784. 
Peabody, Nathaniel, N. H. 
Peery, William, Del. 

Pell, Philip, N. Y. Attended March 2, 1789. 
Pendleton, Edmund, Va. 
Penn, John, N. C. 
Person, Thomas, N. C, 1784. 
Peters, Richard, Pa. 
Pettit, Charles, Pa. 
Phillips, Peter, R. L, 1785. 
Pickering, John, N. H., 1788. 
Pierce, William, Ga. 
Pinckney, Charles, S. C. 
Pinckney, Thomas, S. C, 1788. 
Pitkin, William, Conn., 1784—5. 
Plater, George, Md. 
Piatt, Zephaniah, N. Y. 
Polk, Thomas, N. C, 1788. 
Potts, Richard, Md. 
Ramsay, David, S. C. 
Ramsey, Nathaniel, Md. 
Randolph, Edmund, Va. 
do Peyton, Va. 



324 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Read, George, Del. 

do Jacob, S. C. 
Reed, Joseph, Pa. 
Reid, James R., Pa. 
Rhoads, Samuel, Pa. 
Ridgeley, Richard, Md. 
Roberdeau, Daniel, Pa. 
Rodney, Caesar, Del. 
Rodney, Thomas, Del. 
Rogers, John, Md. 
Root, Jesse, Conn. 
Ross, David, Md. 

do George, Pa. 
Rumsey, Benjamin, Md. 
Rush, Benjamin, Pa. 
Rutledge, Edward, S. C. 

do John, S. C. 
Schureman, James, N. J. 
Schuyler, Philip, N. Y. 
Scott, Gustavus, Md. 

do John Morin, N. Y. 
Scudder, Nathaniel, N. J. 
Searle, James, Pa. 
Sedgwick, Theodore, Mass. 
Seney, Joshua, Md. 
Sergeant, Jonathan D., N. J. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 325 

Sharpe, William, N. C. 

Sherman, Roger, Conn. 

Shippen, William, Pa. 

Sitgreaves, John, N. C. 

Smallwood, Gen. William, Md., 1788. 

Smith, Benjamin, N. C, 1786. 

Smith, James, Pa. 

do Jonathan Bayard, Pa. 

do Melancton, N. Y. 

do Mere wether, Va. 

do Richard, N. J. 

do Thomas, Pa. 

do William, Md. 
Spaight, Richard Dobbs, N. C. 
Sparhawk, John, N. H. 
Spencer, Joseph, Conn. 
St. Clair, Arthur, Pa. 
Stevens, John, Sen., N. J., 1783-4. 
Stewart, Charles, N. J. 
Stirk, Samuel, Ga. 
Stockton, Richard, N. J. 
Stokes, John, N. C, 1788. 
Stone, Thomas, Md. 
Strong, Caleb, Mass. 

do Jedediah, Conn. 
Sturges, Jonathan, Conn. 



326 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Sullivan, James, Mass. 

do John, N. H. 
Sumner, Increase, Mass., June 6, 1781. Resigned 

June 28, 1781. 
Sumter, Gen. Thomas, S. C, Feb. 1783. 
Swann, John, N. C. 
Sykes, James, Del. 
Symmes, John Cleves, N. J. 
Taylor, George, Pa. 
Telfair, Edward, Ga. 
Thacher, George, Mass. 
Thompson, Ebenezer, N. H., 1783. 
Thornton, Matthew, N. H. 
Tilghman, Matthew, Md. 
Tilton, James, Del. 
Trapier, Paul, Jr., S. C. 
Treadwell, John, Conn. 
Trumbull, Jonathan, Jr., Conn. 
Trumbull, Joseph, Conn. 
Tucker, Thomas Tudor, S. C. 
Van Dyke, Nicholas, Del. 
Varnum, James M., R. I. 
Vining, John, Del. 
Wadsworth, James, Conn. 

do Jeremiah, Conn. 

Wadsworth, Peleg, Mass. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 327 

Walker, John, Va. 
Walker, Timothy, N. H. 
Walton, John, Ga. 

do George, Ga. 
Ward, Artemas, Mass. 

do Samuel, R. I. 
Warren, James, Mass., 1782. 
Washington, George, Va. 
Wentworth, James, Conn. 
Wentworth, John, Sen., N. H. 
Wentworth, John, Jr., N. H. 
Wentworth, Joshua, N. H. 
West, Benjamin, N. H. 
Wharton, Samuel, Del. 
Whipple, William, N. H. 
White, Alexander, N. C. 

do James, N. C. Attended Feb. 6, 1788. 

do Phillips, N. H. 
Williams, John, N. C. 

do William, Conn. 
Williamson, Hugh, N. C. 
Willing, Thomas, Pa. 
Wilson, James, Pa. 
Wingate, Paine, N. H. 
Wisner, Henry, N. Y. 
Witherspoon, John, N. J. 



328 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Wolcott, Erastus, Conn., 1774, 1787-9. 
Wolcott, Oliver, Conn. 

do Roger, Jr., Conn., 1777. 
Wood, Joseph, Ga. 
Wright, Turbett, Md. 
Wynkoop, Henry, Pa. 
Wythe, George, Va. 
Yates, Abraham, Jr., N. Y 

do Peter W.,N.Y. 
Zubly, John J., Ga. 



APPENDIX J. 



Signers of the Articles of Confederation. 



New Hampshire. Bartlett, Josiah. 

Wentworth, John, Jr. 
Massachusetts. Hancock, John. 

Adams, Samuel. 

Gerry, Elbridge. 

Dana, Francis. 

Lovell, James. 

Holten, Samuel. 
Rhode Island. Ellery, William. 

Marchant, Henry. 

Collins, John. 
Connecticut. Sherman, Roger. 

Huntington, Samuel. 

Wolcott, Oliver. 

Hosmer, Titus. 

Adams, Andrew. 



330 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 


New York, 


Duane, James. 




Lewis, Francis. 




Duer, William. 




Morris, Gouverneur. 


New Jersey. 


Witherspoon, John. 




Scudder, Nathaniel. 


Pennsylvania. 


Morris, Robert. 




Roberdeau, Daniel. 




Smith, Jonathan Bayard. 




Clingan, William. 




Reed, Joseph. 


Delaware. 


McKean, Thomas. 




Dickinson, John. 




Van Dyke, Nicholas. 


Maryland. 


Hanson, John. 




Carroll, Daniel. 


Virginia 


Lee, Richard Henry. 




Banister, John. 




Adams, Thomas. 




Harvie, John. 




Lee, Francis Lightfoot. 


North Carolina. 


Penn, John. 




Harnett, Cornelius. 




Williams, John. 



ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 331 



South Carolina, 



Georgia. 



Laurens, Henry. 
Drayton, William Henry. 
Mathews, John. 
Hutson, Richard. 
Heyward, Thomas, Jr. 
Walton, John. 
Telfair, Edward. 
Langworthy, Edward. 



APPENDIX K. 

Delegates to the Annapolis Convention, 
Sept. 1, 1786. 

[Note. The names in italics are those of delegates who declined the appoint- 
ment or who did not attend the Convention.] 

Rhode Island. Bowen, Jabez. See Blake's Biog. 

Dict'y. 
Ward, Samuel. See Appleton. 

Massachusetts. Dana, Francis. 

Higginson, Stephen. 

[See "The Collector," vol. 5, No. 9, page 142.] 

Sullivan, James. 

Sullivan declined the appointment. See No. 152, Part 1, Leffingwell sale. 

Lowell, John. 
Parsons, Theophilus. 
Gerry, Elbridge. 



ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION 333 

Nezv York. Hamilton, Alexander. 

Benson, Egbert. 

[See <c New York Civil List" and "The Collector," vol. 5, No. 9, page 142.] 

Duane, James. 

Gansevoort, Leonard. 

Livingston, Robert C. 

Livingston, Robert R. 
Nezv Jersey. Clark, Abraham. 

Schureman, James. 

Houston, William Churchill. 
Pennsylvania. Morris, Robert. 

[See "The Financiers and Finances of the American Revolution," vol. 2, page 
197, Prof. \V. G. Sumner.] 

Cose, Tench. 

Clymer, George. 

Armstrong, John, Jr. 

Fitzsimons, Thomas. 
Maryland. Martin, Luther. 

Delaware. Read, George. 

Dickinson, John. Chairman of the 
Convention. 

Bassett, Richard. 

Broom, Jacob. 
Virginia. Randolph, Edmund. 

Madison, James, Jr. 

Tucker, St. George. 

[See No. 2148, Part 1, LerSngwell sale; and Virginia Hist. Soc. Collections 
New Series, vol. s.] 



334 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Smith y Merewether. 
Jones, Dr. Walter. 
Ross, David. 
Ronald, William. 
Mason, George. 

North Carolina. Nash, Abner. 
Moore, Alfred. 

[See No. 2124, Part 1, Leffingwell sale.] 

Williamson, Hugh. 
Blount, John G. 
Hawkins, Philemon. 



APPENDIX L. 



Signers of the Constitution of the United States, 
and Members of the Federal Convention. 

[Note. Those whose names are printed in Capitals took their seats and 
signed the Constitution. Those whose names are printed in italics — unless other- 
wise stated — never accepted their positions or acted in any way.] 

New Hampshire, John Langdon. 
John Pickering. 
Nicholas Gilman. 
Benjamin West. 

Francis Dana. 

Elbridge Gerry. (Refused to sign.) 
Nathaniel Gorham. 
Rufus King. 

Caleb Strong. (Absent on day of 
signing.) 

William Samuel Johnson. 
Roger Sherman. 



Massachusetts. 



Connecticut. 



336 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



New York. 



New Jersey. 



Pennsylvania. 



Delaware. 



Oliver Ellsworth. (Absent on day of 
signing.) 

Robert Yates. 
Alexander Hamilton. 

John Lansing. 

William Livingston. 
David Brearley. 
William C. Houston. 
William Paterson. 
John Neilson. 
Abraham Clark. 
Jonathan Dayton. 

Benjamin Franklin. 
Thomas Mifflin. 
Robert Morris. 
George Clymer. 
Thomas Fitzsimons. 
Jared Ingersoll. 
James Wilson, 
gouverneur morris. 

George Read. 
Gunning Bedford, Jr. 
John Dickinson. 
Richard Bassett. 
Jacob Broom. 



SIGNERS OF CONSTITUTION 



337 



Maryland. 



Virginia. 



North Carolina. 



James McHenry. 

Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer. 

Daniel Carroll. 

John Francis Mercer. (Withdrew.) 

Luther Martin. (Withdrew.) 

Charles Carroll of Carrol I ton. 

Thomas Stone. 

Thomas Sim Lee. 

Gabriel Duvall. 

Robert H. Harrison. 

George Washington. 

Patrick Henry. 

Edmund Randolph. (Declined to 

sign.) 
John Blair. 
James Madison, Jr. 
George Mason. (Declined to sign.) 
George Wythe. (Absent on day of 

signing.) 
James McClurg. (Absent on day of 

signing.) 
Richard Henry Lee. 
Thomas Nelson, Jr. 
Richard Caswell. 
Alexander Martin. (Absent on day 

of signing.) 



338 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

William R. Davie. (Absent on day 

of signing.) 
William Blount. 
Willie Jones. 

Richard Dobbs Spaight. 
Hugh Williamson. 

South Carolina. John Rutledge. 

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. 
Charles Pinckney. 
Pierce Butler. 
Henry Laurens. 

Georgia. William Few. 

Abraham Baldwin. 

William Pierce. (Withdrew.) 

George Walton. 

William Houstoun. (Declined to 

sign.) 
Nathaniel Pendleton. 



APPENDIX M. 

Generals of the Revolutionary War. 

George Washington, General and Commander-in-chief. 

Charles Tufin Armand, Marquis de la Rouarie, Brig.- 
Gen. 

John Armstrong, Brigadier-General. 

Benedict Arnold, Major-General. 

George Baylor, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Daniel Brodhead, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Richard Butler, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

John Cadwalader, Brigadier-General. 

Thomas Clark, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

George Clinton, Brevet Major-General. 

James Clinton, Brevet Major-General. 

John Crane, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Thomas Conway, Major-General. 

Elias Dayton, Brigadier-General. 

The Chevalier De Preudhomme De Borre, Brigadier- 
General. 



340 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

The Chevalier Matthias Alexis de Roche Fermoy, 
Brig.-General. 

John Philip De Haas, Brevet Major-General. 

Philippe Du Coudray, Major-General. 

The Chevalier Louis Lebegue Duportail, Major-Gen- 
eral. 

Samuel Elbert, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Christian Febiger, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Joseph Frye, Brigadier-General. 

Christopher Gadsden, Brigadier-General. 

Horatio Gates, Major-General. 

John Gibson, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Mordecai Gist, Brigadier-General. 

John Glover, Brigadier-General. 

John Greaton, Brigadier-General. 

Nathanael Greene, Major-General. 

John Gunby, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Edward Hand, Brevet Major-General. 

Moses Hazen, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

William Heath, Major-General. 

James Hogun, Brigadier-General. 

Robert Howe, Major-General. 

Isaac Huger, Brigadier-General. 

Richard Humpton, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Jedediah Huntington, Brevet Major-General. 

William Irvine, Brigadier-General. 



GENERALS OF REVOLUTION 341 

Henry Jackson, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Michael Jackson, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

John, Baron de Kalb, Major-General. 

Henry Knox, Major-General. 

Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Marquis de Lafayette, Major-General. 

John Lamb, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

The Chevalier de la Neuville, Brevet Brig.-Gen. 

Monsieur de Laumoy, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Ebenezer Learned, Brigadier-General. 

Charles Lee, Major-General. 

Andrew Lewis, Brigadier-General. 

Benjamin Lincoln, Major-General. 

Alexander McDougall, Major-General. 

Lachlan Mcintosh, Brigadier-General. 

George Mathews, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

William Maxwell, Brigadier-General. 

Hugh Mercer, Brigadier-General. 

Thomas Mifflin, Major-General. 

Richard Montgomery, Major-General. 

James Moore, Brigadier-General. 

Daniel Morgan, Brigadier-General. 

William Moultrie, Major-General. 

Stephen Moylan, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Peter Muhlenberg, Brevet Major-General. 

Francis Nash, Brigadier-General. 



342 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

John Nevill, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Lewis Nicola, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

John Nixon, Brigadier-General. 

Matthias Ogden, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Samuel H. Parsons, Major-General. 

John Paterson, Brigadier-General. 

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Brevet Brig.-Gen. 

Seth Pomeroy, Brigadier-General. 

Enoch Poor, Brigadier-General. 

Casimir, Count Pulaski, Brigadier-General. 

Israel Putnam, Major-General. 

Rufus Putnam, Brigadier-General. 

James Reed, Brigadier-General. 

Joseph Reed, Brigadier-General. 

William Russell, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Philip Schuyler, Major-General. 

Charles Scott, Brevet Major-General. 

William Shepard, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

Elisha Sheldon, Brevet Brigadier-General. 

William Smallwood, Major-General. 

Joseph Spencer, Major-General. 

John Stark, Brevet Major-General. 

Arthur St. Clair, Major-General. 

Adam Stephen, Major-General. 

Baron Steuben, Major-General. 

Walter Stewart, Brevet Brigadier-General. 



GENERALS OF REVOLUTION 343 

William Alexander, Lord Stirling, Major-General. 
John Sullivan, Major-General. 
Jethro Sumner, Brigadier-General. 
Heman Swift, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
John Thomas, Major-General. 
William Thompson, Brigadier-General. 
Benjamin Tupper, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
Philip, Van Cortlandt, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
Gozen Van Schaick, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
James M. Varnum, Brigadier-General. 
Joseph Vose, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
Artemas Ward, Major-General. 
Anthony Wayne, Brevet Major-General. 
Samuel B. Webb, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
George Weedon, Brevet Major-General. 
John Whetcomb, Brigadier-General. 
James Wilkinson, Brevet Brigadier-General. 
Otho H. Williams, Brigadier-General. 
Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron de Woedtke, Brig. -Gen. 
William Woodford, Brigadier-General. 
David Wooster, Brigadier-General. 



APPENDIX N. 

General Washington's Secretaries and Aides-de- 
camp. 

Baylies, Hodijah. 
Baylor, George. 
Cary, Richard. 
Cobb, David. 
Custis, John Parke. 
Fitzgerald, John. 
Fitzburgh, Peregrine. 
Grayson, William. 
Hamilton, Alexander. 
Hanson, Alexander Contee. 
Harrison, Robert H. 
Humphreys, David. 
Jackson, William. 
Johnston, George. 
Laurance, John. 
Laurens, John. 



WASHINGTON'S AIDS 345 



Lewis, George. 
McHenry, James. 
Meade, Richard K. 
Mifflin, Thomas. 
Moylan, Stephen. 
Palfrey, William. 
Randolph, Edmund. 
Reed, Joseph. 
Smith, Benjamin. 
Smith, William S. 
Thornton, Presly P. 
Tilghman, Tench. 
Trumbull, John. 
Trumbull, Jonathan, Jr. 
Varick, Richard. 
Walker, Benjamin. 
Walker, John. 
Webb, Samuel B. 



APPENDIX O. 

Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United 

States. 

Presidents. 

Washington, George. 
Adams, John. 
Jefferson, Thomas. 
Madison, James. 
Monroe, James. 
Adams, John Quincy. 
Jackson, Andrew. 
Van Buren, Martin. 
Harrison, William Henry. 
Tyler, John. 
Polk, James K. 
Taylor, Zachary. 
Fillmore, Millard. 
Pierce, Franklin. 



PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS 347 

Buchanan, James. 
Lincoln, Abraham. 
Johnson, Andrew. 
Grant, Ulysses S. 
Hayes, Rutherford B. 
Garfield, James A. 
Arthur, Chester A. 
Cleveland, Grover. 
Harrison, Benjamin. 
Cleveland, Grover. 
McKinley, William. 
Roosevelt, Theodore. 
Taft, William H. 
Wilson, Woodrow. 

Vice-Presidents of the United States, and Presidents pro 
tempore of the U. S. Senate who were Acting Vice- 
Presidents, 

Adams, John. 

Jefferson, Thomas. 

Burr, Aaron. 

Clinton, George. 

Crawford, William H., Acting Vice-Pres. after the 

death of Clinton. 
Varnum, Joseph B., Acting Vice-Pres. from Dec. 6, 

1813, to April 7, 1814. 



348 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Gerry Elbridge. 

Gaillard, John, Acting Vice-Pres. after the death of 

Gerry. 
Tompkins, Daniel D. 
Calhoun, John C. 
White, Hugh Lawson, Acting Vice-Pres. after the 

resignation of Calhoun. 
Van Buren, Martin. 
Johnson, Richard M. 
Tyler, John. 
Southard, Samuel L., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Tyler's Presidency. 
Mangum, Willie P., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Tyler's Presidency. 
Dallas, George M. 
Fillmore, Millard. 

King, William R., Acting Vice-Pres. during the Presi- 
dency of Fillmore. 
King, William R. 
Atchison, David R., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death 

of King. 
Mason, James M., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death 

of King. 
Cass, Lewis, Acting Vice-Pres. after the death of 

King. 



PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS 349 

Bright, Jesse D., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death of 

King. 
Stuart, Charles E., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death 

of King. 
Breckenridge, John C. 
Hamlin, Hannibal. 
Johnson, Andrew. 
Foster, Lafayette S., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Johnson's Presidency. 
Wade, Benjamin F., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Johnson's Presidency. 
Colfax, Schuyler. 
Wilson, Henry. 
Ferry, Thomas W., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death 

of Wilson. 
Wheeler, William A. 
Arthur, Chester A. 
Bayard, Thomas F., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Arthur's Presidency. 
Davis, David, Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Arthur's Presidency. 
Edmunds, George F., Acting Vice-Pres. during part of 

Arthur's Presidency. 
Hendricks, Thomas A. 
Sherman, John, Acting Vice-Pres. after the death of 

Hendricks. 



350 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Ingalls, John Jay, Acting Vice-Pres. after the death 

of Hendricks. 
Morton, Levi P. 
Stevenson, Adlai E. 
Hobart, Garrett A. 
Frye, William P., Acting Vice-Pres. after the death of 

Hobart. 
Roosevelt, Theodore. 
Frye, William P., Acting Vice-Pres. after Roosevelt's 

accession to the Presidency. 
Fairbanks, Charles W. 
Sherman, James S. 
Marshall, Thomas R. 



APPENDIX P. 

Speakers of the U. S. House of Representatives. 

Muhlenberg, Frederick Augustus. 

Trumbull, Jonathan. 

Dayton, Jonathan. 

Dent, George. 

Sedgwick, Theodore. 

Macon, Nathaniel. 

Varnum, Joseph B. 

Clay, Henry. 

Cheves, Langdon. 

Taylor, John W. 

Barbour, Philip P. 

Stevenson, Andrew. 

Hubbard, Henry. 

Bell, John. 

Polk, James K. 



352 BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 

Hunter, R. M. T. 
White, John. 
Jones, John W. 
Hopkins, George W. 
Davis, John W. 
Winthrop, Robert C. 
Burt, Armistead. 
Cobb, Howell. 
Boyd, Lynn. 
Banks, Nathaniel P. 
Orr, James L. 
Pennington, William. 
Grow, Galusha A. 
Colfax, Schuyler. 
Pomeroy, Theodore M. 
Blaine, James G. 
Kerr, Michael C. 
Randall, Samuel J. 
Keifer, J. Warren. 
Carlisle, John G. 
Reed, Thomas B. 
Crisp, Charles F. 
Henderson, David B. 
Cannon, Joseph G. 
Clark, Champ. 



APPENDIX Q. 

Delegates to the "Peace" Congress Held at 
Washington in 1861. 



Maine 



New Hampshire, 



Vermont. 



William P. Fessenden. 
Lot M. Morrill. 
Daniel E. Somes. 
John J. Perry. 
Ezra B. French. 
Freeman H. Morse. 
Stephen Coburn. 
Stephen C. Foster. 
Amos Tuck. 
Levi Chamberlain. 
Asa Fowler. 
Hiland Hall. 
Levi Underwood. 
H. Henry Baxter. 
Lucius E. Chittenden. 
B. D. Harris. 



354 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Massachusetts. 



Rhode Island. 



Connecticut. 



New York. 



John Z. Goodrich. 
Charles Allen. 
George S. Boutwell. 
Theophilus P. Chandler. 
Francis B. Crowninshield. 
John M. Forbes. 
Richard P. Waters. 
Samuel Ames. 
Alexander Duncan. 
William W. Hoppin. 
George H. Browne. 
Samuel G. Arnold. 
Roger S. Baldwin. 
Chauncey F. Cleveland. 
Charles J. McCurdy. 
James T. Pratt. 
Robbins Battell. 
Amos S. Treat. 
David Dudley Field. 
William Curtis Noyes. 
James S. Wadsworth. 
James C. Smith. 
Amaziah B. James. 
Erastus Corning. 
Francis Granger. 
Greene C. Bronson. 



PEACE CONGRESS OF 1861 



355 



New Jersey. 



Pennsylvania. 



Delaware. 



William E. Dodge. 
John A. King. 
John E. Wool. 

Addison Gardiner. Declined the ap- 
pointment. 
Charles S. Olden. 
Peter D. Vroom. 
Robert F. Stockton. 
Benjamin Williamson. 
Joseph F. Randolph. 
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen. 
Rodman M. Price. 
William C. Alexander. 
Thomas J. Stryker. 
James Pollock. 
William M. Meredith. 
David Wilmot. 
A. W. Loomis. 
Thomas E. Franklin. 
William McKennan. 
Thomas White. 
George B. Rodney. 
Daniel M. Bates. 
Henry Ridgely. 
John W. Houston. 
William Cannon. 



356 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Maryland. 



Virginia. 



North Carolina. 



Tennessee. 



John F. Dent. 
Reverdy Johnson. 
John W. Crisiield. 
Augustus W. Bradford. 
William T. Goldsborough. 
J. Dixon Roman. 
Benjamin C. Howard. 
John Tyler. 
William C. Rives. 
John W. Brockenbrough. 
George W. Summers. 
James A. Seddon. 
George Davis. 
Thomas Ruffin. 
David S. Reid. 
D. M. Barringer. 
J. M. Morehead. 
Samuel Milligan. 
Josiah M. Anderson. 
Robert L. Carruthers. 
Thomas Martin. 
Isaac R. Hawkins. 
A. W. 0. Totten. 
R. J. McKinney. 
Alvin Cullom. 
William P. Hickerson. 



PEACE CONGRESS OF 1861 



357 



Kentucky. 



Missouri. 



Ohio. 



Indiana. 



George W. Jones. 
Felix K. Zollicoffer. 
William H. Stephens. 
William 0. Butler. 
James B. Clay. 
Joshua F. Bell. 
Charles S. Morehead. 
James Guthrie. 
Charles A. Wickliffe. 
John D. Coalter. 
Alexander W. Doniphan. 
Waldo P. Johnson. 
Aylett H. Buckner. 
Harrison Hough. 
Salmon P. Chase. 
William S. Groesbeck. 
Franklin T. Backus. 
Reuben Hitchcock. 
Thomas Ewing. 
Valentine B. Horton. 
C. P. Wolcott. 
John C. Wright. 
Caleb B. Smith. 
Pleasant A. Hackleman. 
Godlove S. Orth. 
E. W. H. Ellis. 



358 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Illinois, 



Iowa. 



Kansas, 



Wisconsin. 



Thomas C. Slaughter. 
John Wood. 
Stephen T. Logan. 
John M. Palmer. 
Burton C. Cook. 
Thomas J. Turner. 
James Harlan. 
James W. Grimes. 
Samuel R. Curtis. 
William Vandever. 
Thomas Ewing, Jr. 
J. C. Stone. 
Henry J. Adams. 
Martin F. Conway. 
Cadwalader C. Washburn. 
John F. Potter. 
James R. Doolittle. 
Charles Durkee. 
Charles Billinghurst. 



They 
did not 
attend. 



APPENDIX R. 



Members of the First Congress Under the 
Constitution. 



New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts. 
Rhode Island. 
Connecticut. 
New York. 
New Jersey. 

Pennsylvania. 

Delaware. 

Maryland. 



Senators. 

John Langdon. 

Paine Wingate. 

Tristram Dalton. 

Caleb Strong. 

Theodore Foster. 

Joseph Stanton, Jun. 

Willian Samuel Johnson. 

Oliver Ellsworth. 

Rufus King. 

Philip Schuyler. 

Jonathan Elmer. 

William Paterson. 

Philemon Dickinson. 

William Maclay. 

Robert Morris. 

Richard Bassett. 

George Read. 

Charles Carroll of Carrollton. 

John Henry. 



360 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Virginia. 



North Carolina. 
South Carolina. 
Georgia. 



William Grayson. 
Richard Henry Lee. 
John Walker. 
James Monroe. 
Benjamin Hawkins. 
Samuel Johnston. 
Pierce Butler. 
Ralph Izard. 
William Few. 
James Gunn. 



Members of the House of Representatives. 
New Hampshire. Nicholas Gilman. 



Massachusetts. 



Rhode Island. 
Connecticut. 



Samuel Livermore. 
Abiel Foster. 
Fisher Ames. 
Elbridge Gerry. 
Benjamin Goodhue. 
Jonathan Grout. 
George Leonard. 
George Partridge. 
George Thacher. 
Theodore Sedgwick. 
Benjamin Bourn. 
Benjamin Huntington. 
Roger Sherman. 





CONGRESS OF 1789 


361 




Jonathan Sturges. 






Jonathan Trumbull. 






Jeremiah Wadsworth. 




New York. 


Egbert Benson. 

William Floyd. 

John Hathorn. 

Jeremiah Van Rensselaer. 

John Laurance. 

Peter Sylvester. 




New Jersey. 


Elias Boudinot. 




• 


Lambert Cadwalader. 
James Schureman. 
Thomas Sinnickson. 




Pennsylvania. 


George Clymer. 
Thomas Fitzsimons. 
Thomas Hartley. 
Daniel Hiester. 
Fred. Aug. Muhlenberg. 
Peter Muhlenberg. 
Thomas Scott. 
Henry Wynkoop. 




Delaware. 


John Vining. 




Maryland. 


Daniel Carroll. 
Benjamin Contee. 
George Gale. 






Joshua Seney. 





362 



BOOK ABOUT AUTOGRAPHS 



Virginia. 



North Carolina, 



South Carolina. 



Georgia. 



William Smith. 
Michael Jenifer Stone. 
Theodoric Bland. 
John Brown. 
Isaac Coles. 
Samuel Griffin. 
Richard Bland Lee. 
James Madison, Jun. 
Andrew Moore. 
John Page. 
Alexander White. 
Josiah Parker. 
William B. Giles. 
John Baptiste Ashe. 
Timothy Bloodworth. 
John Sevier. 
John Steele. 
Hugh Williamson. 
CEdanus Burke. 
Daniel Huger. 
William Laughton Smith- 
Thomas Sumter. 
Thomas Tudor Tucker. 
Abraham Baldwin. 
James Jackson. 
George Mathews. 



INDEX 



Figures in Italics indicate pages where auction prices of autographs are given; 

Bold-face figures indicate pages where names appear in official lists. All other 

references are indicated by plain type. 



IXDEX 



365 



Abbreviations, 10 

Abelard, 46 

Abington, Frances, 94, 188 

Adams, Andrew, 311, 329 

Adams, Henrv T., 358 

Adams, John,' /7, 202, 215, 295, 303, 

308, 311, 346, 347 
Adams, Tohn Quincv, 346 
Adams, Samuel, 77, 295, 308, 311, 329; 

collection, 221 
Adams, Thomas, 311, 330 

Autograph rare, 264 
Addington, Samuel, 126, 129-130, 156, 

157,237 
Addison, Joseph, 22, 71, 93, 124, 175 
Admiralty, Revolutionary Board of, 306, 

307 
jEschylus, 15, 47 

Aides-de-Camp to Washington, 344-345 
Aiguillon, Duke of, 99 
Alba Amicorum, 17, 18, 19, 20 

Facsimiles from, 19 
Albanv Convention, 191, 198, 220, 226, 
249, 291-292 

Mistakes of identity, 249 

Scarce autographs, 264, 265 
Albert, Charles d' — see Luvnes. 
Albret, Henri d*, 126 
Albret, Jeanne d\ 96, 104, 114, 127, 140 
Album de Fac-Simile, 286 
Album, Roman, 17 
Alcibiades, 46 
Alcuin, 47 

Alden, John, 200, _ 203 
Aldobrandini, Hippolvte — see Clement 

VIII. 
Alencon, Due d', 20, 110 
Alexander the Great, 46; spurious letter, 

51 
Alexander VI., Pope, 96, 97, 110, 111, 148 
Alexander, Robert, 311 
Alexander, William C, 355 
Alrieri, 174 
Allen, Andrew, 311 
Allen, Charles, 354 
Men, Mrs. E. H., 170 
Allen, Ethan, 188; papers, 224 
Allen, Ira, papers, 224 
Almagro, Don Diego de, 162 
Alsop~ John, 296, 311 
Alva, Fernando, Duke of, 162, 177 
Amboise, Georges, Cardinal d', 138 



American Antiquarian, 82 

American Antiquarian Society, 210-211; 

Handbook of Information, 211 
American Collectors, 170-20"; Public, 

210-229 
American Historical and Literary Cariosi- 
ties, 285-286 
American Poets, 270 
Amerigo Vespucci, 22 
Ames/Fisher, 215, 360 
Ames, Samuel, 354 
Amiens, Treaty of, 14 
Among my AiitGgrapks, 8 
Anacreon, 47 
Anderdon, 73 
Anderdon, John L., 88 
Anderson, Josiah M., 356 
.Andre, Tohn, 75, 76, 193, 193, 204 

MS. of Cow Chace, 216 

Papers, 223 

Letter Book, 217 
Andrew, Beniamin, 311 
Andros, Sir Edmund, 188, 203 
Angus, James, 56 
Annapolis Convention, 191, 220; Dele- 

gates, 332-334 
Anne of Austria, 96 
Anne of Bretagne, 111, 128 
Anne of France, 128 
Anne, Queen of England, 177 
Anson, Admiral, 93 
Appendices, 283-363 
Aquila, Caspar, 189 
Arbuthnot, 1*5 
Arc, Jeanne d' — see Jeanne. 
Arcesilaus, 47 

Archdaie, John, papers, 213 
Archimedes, 47 
Archivist, 29, 71 
Aretino, Pietro, 96, 149 
Ariosto, Ludovico, 47, 134, 162 
Aristotle, 47, 51 
Arlington, Lord, 100 
Armand, Gen. Charles Tufin, 339 
Armstrong, John, Sr., 311 
Armstrong, John, Jr., 311, 333 
Armstrong, Gen. John, 339 
Arne, Dr ", 123 

Arnold, Benedict, 76, 183, 193, 201, 206, 
211, 248, 339; Letter Book, 216 

Autograph recherche, 266 
Arnold, Jonathan, 311 



366 



INDEX 



Arnold, Peleg, 311 

Arnold, Samuel G., 354 

Artaignan, Comte d', 162 

Arthur, Chester A., 347, 349 

Articles of Confederation, 191, 220; 

Signers, 329-331 
Ashe, John B., 311, 362 
Aske, Robert, 96 
Atchison, David R., 348 
Atkinson, George, 291, 311 
Atkinson, Theodore, 291 
Atlee, Samuel J., 304, 311 
Atossa, 16 
Attila, 47 
Auction sales of note — see Collections and 

Collectors. 
Auctioneers — see Evans, Henkels, Put- 
tick & Simpson, Sotheby. 
Augustus, 16 
Austin, Ben W., 35-38 
Austin, Jane, 218 
Authors — see Blackburn & Caddell, 

Brotherhead, Davey, Howell, Joline, 

Netherclift, Nichols, Scott, Sims, Thane, 

Walsh, Walton. 
Autograph dealers — see 'Dealers. 

imposters, 28-38 
Autograph Letters, 284 
Autograph Mirror, 286 
Autograph Miscellany, 284 
Autograph Souvenir, 285 
Autographic Album, 287 
Autographic Mirror, 286 
Autographs of the Kings and Queens, etc., 

284 
Autographs of Royal, Noble, Learned and 

Remarkable Personages, etc., 283 
Autographs — Taste for collecting, 13 

What determines their value, 22 

Requests for, 26 

Spurious, 40-68 

Progressive increase in values, 69 

Collectors of — see Collectors. 

Dealers in, 79-84 

Migration of, 230 

Pedigrees of, 230 

Should not be mounted or inlaid, 275, 
276 

Care of, 275-277 

Prices of, 69 

Conversations about, 240-282 
Avanches, Bishop of, 115 



Bach, 204 

Bache, Richard, 307 

Backus, Franklin T., 357 

Bacon, Francis, 96, 128, 132, 166, 175, 
204, 207, 259 
Handwriting changed with maturity, 

253 
Facsimiles of handwriting, opposite 
page 253 

Bailhe, Joanna, 174 

Baker sale, 25, 237 

Balafre" — see Guise. 

Baldwin, Abraham, 312, 338, 362 

Baldwin, Roger S., 354 

Ballantyne, James, 166 

Baltimore, Lord, 178 

Baluze, Etienne, 86 

Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de, 89, 134 

Bancroft, George, 221; collection, 221 

Banister, John, 312, 330 

Banks, 176 

Banks, Nathaniel P., 352 

Bannister, 176 

Barbaroux, 70 

Barbauld, Mrs., 174 

Barbour, Philip P., 351 

Barclay papers, 220 

Barker, Frederick, 81 

Barnes, Abraham, 292; autograph ex- 
tremely rare, 265 

Barnes, Abraham — not the desirable 
autograph, 265 

Barnevelt, Johann van Olden, 128 

Barney, Dr. Charles G., 268-269 

Barnwell, Robert, 312 

Barringer, D. M., 356 

Barry, Spranger, 95 

Bartelet, Mr., 88 

Bartlett, Josiah, 194, 308, 312, 329 

Barton, 174 

Bassano, Due de, 105 

Bassett, Richard, 312, 333, 336, 359 

Bassompierre, Marshall, HI 

Bates, Daniel M., 355 

Battell, Robbins, 354 

Baude, Charles, Marquis de, 1 13 

Baxter, H. Henry, 353 

Baxter, Richard, 124 

Bayard, 42, 138 

Bayard, John, 312 

Bayard, Pierre, 111 

Bayard, Thomas F., 349 



INDEX 



367 



Bayard, William, 293 

Baylies, Hodijah, 344 

Baylor, Col. George, 247, 339, 344 

Beattie, James, 176 

Beatty, John, 312 

Beauharnais, Josephine de, 138, 165 

Beaumarchais, 1~6 

Beaumont, Comte de — see Marillac. 

Beaumont, M. de, 114 

Beauregard, Gen., 212 

Bedford, Gunning, 312; confused with a 

carpenter of the same name, 248 
Bedford, Gunning, Jr., 312, 336 
Bee, Thomas, 312 
Beechey, 176 
Beethoven, Ludwig von, 72, 137, 184, 

189, 204 
Belisarius, 47 
Bell, John, 351 
Bell, Joshua F., 357 
Bellamy, George Anne, 94 
Bellay, Cardinal du, 120 
Bellievre, Pomponne de, 96 
Bellows, Benjamin, 312 
Belzoni, 175 
Benjamin, Park, 83 
Benjamin, Walter R., 83 
Benjamin, William Evarts, 83 
Benson, Egbert, 312, 333, 361 
Bentham, Jeremy, 175 
Benton, Thomas H., papers, 218 
Beranger, 31 
Beresford, Richard, 312 
Berkeley, 175 

Berlichinsen, Gotz von, 147, 153 
Berlin Library, 209 
Berry, Thomas, 289 
Berulle, Pierre, Cardinal, 97 
Bethune, Hippolyte de, 85 
Bethune, Philippe de, 85 
Beza, Theodore, 97, 111 
Bibliotheque Nationale, 86, 208-209, 

210, 243 
Bichat, Francois Xavier, 139 
Bichet, 70 

Biddle, Edward, 296, 312 
Billinghurst, Charles, 358 
Bindlev, James, 88 
Bingham, William, 267, 312 
Biron, Armand de Gontaut, Due de, 111 
Biron, Charles de Gontaut, Due de, 97 
Bixby, W. H., collection, 218 



Blackburn & Caddell— The Detection of 

Forgery, 261 
Black Prince, 233 
Blackmore, Sir R., 94 
Biackstone, Sir William, 81, 93 
Blaine, James G., 352 
Blair, John, 200, 312, 337 

Autograph rare, 265 
Blair, Robert, 124 
Blake, Admiral Robert, 93, 127 
Blake, William, 94 
Bianchard, Jonathan, 312 
Bland, Richard, 297, 312 

Autograph rare, 264 
Bland, Theodoric, 312, 362 
Bloodworth, Timothy, 312, 362 
Blount, John G., 334 
Blount, William, 312, 338 
Blumenbach, 176 
Boccacio, 47 
Boerner, C. G., 82 
Boerum, Simon, 268, 2%, 312 

Autograph formerly extremely rare, 
268 
Bohemia, Queen of, 98, 128 
Bohm, Professor, 231, 281 
Boileau-Despreaux, Nicholas, 43, 47, P7, 

111, 128, 139, 166 
Boisiourdain, Comte de, 46 
Boleyn, Anne, 50, 120 
Bolivar, Simon, 97 
Bolton, Rev. Robert, 88 
Bonaparte — see Napoleon. 
Bonaparte Family, 177 
Bonaparte, Charles de, 139 
Bonaparte, Letizia, 167, 111 
Bonaparte, Lucien, 111, 167 
Bonaparte, Madame, 111 
Bonnivet, 138 
Bonpland, 176 

Books with facsimiles, 283-288 
Book of the Signers, 2$ 5 
Booksellers — see Dealers. 
Boone, Daniel, 191, 202 
Booth, Barton, 94 
Booth, John Wilkes, 21^ 
Bora, Katharina von, 154 
Borden, Joseph, 293 
Borgia, Cesar, 97, 111, 148 
Borgia, Lucretia, 148, 149, 162, 204 
Borgia, Roderigo — see Alexander VI. 
Boswell, James, 93 



368 



INDEX 



Bothwell, SS 

Botta, 175 

Boucicaut, Jean La Maigre, Sire de, 112 

Boudinot, Elias, 298, 312, 361 

Bouillon, Due de, 105 

Bouillon, Duchesse de, 169 

Bouillon, M. de, 103 

Bourbon, Charles II., Cardinal de, 112, 

126 
Bourbon, Matthieu de, 112 
Bourepaux, M. de, 1 17 
Bourn, Benjamin, 360 
Bouthiller, M. de, 97 
Boutwell, George S., 354 
Bouver, Benjamin, 
Bovet, Alfred, 87, 143, 280; collection, 

42, 143-146, 231, 277; sale, 72, 73; 

catalogue, 287 
Bowdoin, James, 295, 312 
Bowen, Jabez, 332 
Bowler, Metcalf, 293 
Bowring, 174 
Boyd, Lynn, 352 
Boyer, 177 

Boyle, Robert, 45, 93, 94, 123 
Bracegirdle, Anne, 94 
Braddock, Gen. Edward, 177, 191 
Bradford, Augustus W., 356 
Bradford, William (Mass.), 203 
Bradford, William (R. I.), 312 
Brande, Gustavus, 88 
Brant, Sebastian, 151 
Brawne, Fanny, 23, 169, 218, 238, 240 
Braxton, Carter, 77, 310, 312 
Brearley, David, 336 
Breckenridge, John C, 349 
Bremer, Frederica — MS. of Hertha, 216 
Brevard, Ephraim, 313; autograph very 

rare, 263 
Brewster, Sir David, 46 
Breze, Marshall de, 111 
Brienne, Antoine Lomenie de, 86 
Bright, Jesse D., 349 
British Autography, by John Thane, 87, 

283 
British Museum Collection, 20, 86, 210, 

243 
Brittany, Duke of, 166 
Brockenbrough, John W., 356 
Brodhead, Gen. Daniel, 339 
Bronson, Greene C, 354 
BrontS, Charlotte, 218 



Brooks, Vincent, 287 

Broom, Jacob, 333, 336 

Brotherhead's Book of the Signers, 64, 
285, 287 

Brown, Alexander, 55 

Brown, Jacob, papers, 213 

Brown, John, 307 

Brown, John (Mass.), 313 

Brown, John (R. I.), 313 

Brown, John (Va.), 313, 362 

Brown, Moses, papers, 227 

Browne, George H., 354 

Browne, Sir Thomas, 93, 124, 127, 162, 
204 

Brownson, Nathan, 313 

Bruyere, Jean de la, 209 

Bryan, George, 293, 306 

Bryant, William Cullen, 274 

Buchanan, James, 226, 347 

Buckingham, Duke of, 22, 97, 123, 127, 
162 

Buckingham, Marquis of, 132 

Buckner, Aylett H., 357 

Bueil, Honorat de — see Racan. 

Bugenhausen, 260 

Bull, John, 313 

Bulloch, Archibald, 313 

Bulstrode, Sir Richard, 160 

Bulwer, 175 

Buonarotti — see Michelangelo. 

Burghley, William Cecil, Lord, 97, 106 

Burgoyne, Gen. John, 201 

Burke, Edmund, 58, 95, 175 

Burke, CEdanus, 362 

Burke, Thomas (N. C), 313 

Burnett, William, 313 

Burney, Fanny — see UArblay. 

Burns, Charles De F., 82, 83 

Burns, Robert, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 
60, 71, 94, 124, 128, 156, 165, 168, 202, 
204, 221; Forgeries, 54, 55 

Burr, Aaron, 185, 217, 347 

Facsimiles, 251; Papers, 213; Differ- 
ences in his handwriting, 250-252 

Burt, Armistead, 352 

Burton, Robert, 204, 313 

Butler, Pierce, 313, 338, 360 

Butler, Gen. Richard, 339 

Butler, William O., 357 

Byron, "George Gordon," 53, 54 



INDEX 



369 



Byron, Lord, 53, 54, 72, 93, 94, 124, 145, 
145, 168, 173, 174, 191, 202, 204; Letter 
to Galignani, 68 

Byron, Pseudo, 53, 54 

Cabinet Officers, 25, 244 

Cabinet Officers — see Revolution. 

Cabot, George, 215 

Cadell, W. W., 57 

Cadell & Davies, 108 

Cadoudal, Georges, 139 

Cadwalder, John, 339 

Cadawalder, Lambert, 299, 313, 361 

Caesar, 47, 48 

Cagliari, Paolo — see Veronese. 

Calderon, 152 

Calhoun, John C, 348 

Caligula, 47 

Calvin, John, 128, 148, 164 

Camden, William, 112, 127 

Camden's Britannia, 88 

Campbell, Thomas, 174 

Campbell papers, 227 

Campbell, William J., 84 

Camuccini, 176 

Canfield, John, 313 

Cannon, Joseph G., 352 

Cannon, William, 355 

Canova, 176 

Capello, Bianca, 147, 204 

Caracchi, Ludovico, 112, 136 

Carignan, Thomas Francois de Savoie, 
Prince de, 112 

Carlisle, John G., 352 

Carmichael, William, 313 

Carrington, Edward, 313 

Czrroll, Charles, 76, 303, 309, 313, 337, 
359 

Carroll, Charles (Barrister), 313 

Carroll, Daniel, M. C, 246, 299, 313, 
330, 337, 361 

Carroll, Daniel, of Duddington, 246; 
autograph mistaken for the Congress- 
man's, 246, 247. [Portrait also.] 

Carruthers, Robert L., 356 

Carvalho's Forty Centuries of Ink, 261 

Cary, Richard, 344 

Cass, Lewis, 348 

Castellane, Comtesse de, 87 

Castiglione, Baldassare, 163 

Caswell, Richard, 297, 313, 337 

Catalogue, etc., Henry Huth, 288 



Catalogue, etc., Alfred Morrison, 288 

Catesby, Robert, 98, 128, 163 

Catharine of Arragon, 72, 98, 151, 156 

Catherine of Russia, 127, 151 

Cato, 47 

Caulincourt — see Vicenza. 

Cecil, Robert — see Salisbury. 

Cecil, William — see Burghley. 

Cellini, Benvenuto, 168 

Centennial Book of the Signers, 287 

Centlivre, Mrs., 124 

Cervantes, 47, 134, 163 

Chalabre, Marquis de, 87 

Chalmers Collection, 221 

Chamberlain, Levi, 353 

Chamberlain, Mellen, 170 

Chambers, John, 291 

Chambry, Etienne Pierre Louis, 87, 137, 

280; Collection, 43, 137-142, 143 
Champlin, George, 313; autograph very 

rare, 263 
Champlin papers, 227 
Chandler, Charles Church, 313 
Chandler, John, Sr. and Jr., mistaken for 

each other, 249, 291 
Chandler, Theophilus P., 354 
Channing-Ellery Papers, 227 
Chantry, 176 

Chapelain, Jean, 98, 112, 126, 174 
Charavay family, 79, 232 
Charavay, Etienne, 41, 43, 44, 80, 85, 
89, 131, 138, 143, 259, 262, 280, 287, 
288 

His La Science des Autographes, 41, 85 
Charavay, Eugene, 80 
Charavay, Gabriel, 80 
Charavay, Jacques, 79, 80 
Charavay, Madame, 80 
Charavay, Noe% 44, 80 
Charles I, of England, £?, 55, 71, 98, 101, 
127, 128, 163, 177. 

His letter to Ormond, 234-237 

Variations in his autograph, 254 
Charles II, of England, 18, 55, 98, 105, 

120, 123, 128, 129, 163, 164, 204 
Charles II, Duke of Lorraine, 1 13 
Charles V, Emperor, 24, 70, 72, 98, 103, 

115, 129, 141, 143, 157, 162, 163, 167, 

169, 177, 209 
Charles V, of Germany, 45, 113, 133, 168 
Charles V, of France, 112, 126 
Charles VI, of France, 70, 113, 143 



370 



INDEX 



Charles VII, of France, 98, 1 13, 122, 138, 

143 
Charles VIII, of France, 113, 138, 139 
Charles IX, of France, 96, 101, 106, 113, 

118, 127, 139 
Charles X, of France, 1 12, 126 
Charles, Constable of France, 126 
Charles, Due de Bourgogne, 113 
Charlemagne, 47 
Chase, Jeremiah T., 313 
Chase, Salmon P., 357; papers, 213 
Chase, Samuel, 77, 202, 297, 309, 313 
Chasles, Michel, 87; dupe of Vrain Lucas, 

44-50 
Chastillon, Gaspard de, 114 
Chatterton, Thomas, 204, 271 

Handwriting always the same, 253; 
extremely rare, 273. 
Chauny, A., 116 

Chenier, Andre Marie de, 72, 134. 139, 
145, 152 

Migration of one of his letters, 231 
Chester, George D. — see Austin (Ben 

W.). 
Chester, John ,313 
Chesterfield, 178 
Cheves, Langdon, 351 
Childs, George W., 216 
Chittenden, Lucius E., 353 
Choate, John, 289 

Choate, Rufus, difficult handwriting, 255 
Christian II, of Denmark, 147 
Christian III, of Denmark, 113 
Christie, Gen. Gabriel, 199 
Christina, Queen, 46, 98 
Christophe, 177 
Churchill, John, 124 
Cibber, Colley, 94, 207 
Cibber, Mrs. Susan, 128 
Cicero, 15, 16, 47 
Cimarosa, Domenico, 136 
Cist, Lewis J., 170, 186-190, 190, 191, 

247, 267; Sale, 74, 75, 270 
Clairon, Hippolite Claire, 99 
Clarendon, Edward, Earl of, 124, 129 

see Hyde (Henry). 
Clark, Abraham, 77, 309, 313, 333, 336 
Clark, Champ, 352 
Clark, Gen. Thomas, 339 
Clarkson, Matthew, 313; confused with 

Major Matthew, 248 
Claude, wife of Francis I, 1 14, 139 



Claverhouse, 55 

Clay, Henry, 351; Papers, 213 

Clay, James B., 357 

Clay, Joseph, 314 

Clays, Pierre Jean — facsimile, 39 

Clemens, Samuel L., 75 

Clement VII, Pope, 101, 114 

Clement VIII, Pope, 99, 129, 147 

Clement IX, Pope, 114 

Cleopatra, 47; Spurious letter, 48 

Clermont, Madame de, 118 

Cleveland, Barbara, Duchess of, 123, 129 

Cleveland, Chauncey F., 354 

Cleveland, Grover, 347 

Clingan, William, 314, 330; Doubts of 

his existence, 267 
Clinton, Gen. George, 289, 314, 339, 

347; Papers, 213, 223, 224 
Clinton, Gen. James, 339; Papers, 213 
Clymer, George, 77, 301, 303, 309, 314, 

333, 336, 361 
Coalter, John D., 357 
Cobb, David, 344 
Cobb, Howell, 352 
Coburn, Stephen, 353 
Cockburn, Alexander, 212 
Cocke, William, 314 
Cohen, Joshua J., 171, 196-197 
Cohn, Albert, 82 
Cohn, Alexander Meyer, 150 
Cohn Sale, 73, 74, 150-153, 231 
Coke, Sir Edward, 123 
Colbert, 112 
Colden papers, 219 
Cole, Robert, 88 
Coleman, the Elder, 71 
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 94, 95 
Coles, Isaac, 362 
Colfax, Schuyler, 349, 352 
Coligny, 114,139 
Collecting of Autographs, 13 
Collection of one hundred characteristic, 

etc., autograph letters, 284 
Collections, European, 85 
Collections, formation of, 26 
Collector, The, 83 
Collectors and Collections in the United 

States, 170-207 
Collectors, disreputable, 28-39 
Collectors, European, 85-169 



INDEX 



371 



Collectors, Collections and Sales, see 
Addington, Samuel 
Allen, Mrs. E. H. 
American Antiquarian Society 
Anderdon, John L. 
Baker 

Baluze, Etienne 
Bartelet, Mr. 
Berlin Library 
Bethune, Hippolyte de 
Bethune, Phillipe de 
Bibliotheque Nationale 
Bindley, James 
Bixby, W. H. 
Bolton, Rev. Robert 
Bovet, Alfred 
Brande, Gustavus 
Brienne, Antoine Lominie de 
British Museum 
Castellane, Comtesse de 
Chalabre, Marquis de 
Chamberlain, Mellon 
Chambry, Etienne Pierre Louis 
Chasles, Michel 
Childs, George W. 
Cicero 

Cist, Lewis J. 
Cohen, Joshua J. 
Cohn, Alexander Meyer 
Cole, Robert 
Conches, Feuillet de 
Congressional Library 
Connecticut Historical Society 
Corser 

Cotton, Sir Robert 
Cousin, Victor 
Danforth, Elliot 
Daniel 

Davis, Robert C. 
Dillon, John 
Dolomieu, Marquise de 
Donnadieu, A. 
Dreer, Ferdinand J. 
Drexel Institute 
Dubrunfaut 
DuChesne, Andr6 
Dumas, Alexandre 
Egerton MSS. 
Emmet, Dr. Thomas Addis 
Etting, Frank M. 
European, 85-169 
Fillon, Benjamin 



Collectors, Collections and Sales, see 
Fogg, John S. H. 
Gaigni&res, Roger de 
Geibel, Dr. Carl 
Gibbes, R. W. 
Gilmor, Robert 
Grimke, Thomas S. 
Guizot 

Hale, John Mills 
Harleian MSS. 
Harley, Robert 
Hauterive, Comte d* 
Haverford College 
Herz v. Hertenried, Carl 
Heath, Baron 
Hibbert 
Hodges 
Huth, Henry 
Ives 

Joline, Adrien H. 
Jones, Charles C. 
La Caille; 
Leffingwell, E. H. 
Libanius the Sophist 
Maine Historical Society 
Martin, Alexandre 
Mayer, Brantz 
Mickley, Joseph J. 
Missouri Historical Society 
Monmerque" 
Montigny, Lucas de 
Morrison, Alfred 
Mucianus 

Musgrave, Sir William 
Neve, Peter le 

New Hampshire Historical Society 
New York Historical Society 
New York Public Library 
New York State Library 
Oxford, Earl of 
Paar, Count 
Parison 

Peiresc, Fabri de 

Pennsylvania, Historical Society of 
Phillips, Sir Thomas 
Pix6r6court, Guilbert de 
Pliny 

Pompeius Secundus 
Poore, Ben Perley 
Raffles, Rev. Dr. 
Rhode Island Historical Society 
Roberts, Charles 



372 



INDEX 



Collectors, Collections and Sales, see 

Sainte-Beuve 

Sardou, Victorien 

Sensier, Alfred 

Sloane, Sir Hans 

Sprague, William B. 

Swain, Gov. David L. 

TarbS 

Tefft, Israel K. 

Thacher, John Boyd 

Thatcher, Benjamin B. 

Thoresby, Ralph 

Tr£mont, Baron de 

Turner, Dawson 

Upcott, William 

Virginia Historical Society 

West, James 

Williams, J. B. 

Wisconsin State Historical Society 

Young, John 
Collins, John, 314, 329 
Collins, Wilkie, 274 
Colon, Don Diego, 163 
Colonial Governors, 181, 187, 191, 198, 

203, 204, 217 
Colonial paper money signatures, 264 
Colonna, Vittoria, 114, 134, ISO 
Columbus, 2& 163, 165, 179 
Commerce in Autographs — see Dealers. 
Commissioners to the Six Nations, 289— 

290 
Commynes, Phillipe de, 139 
Conarroe collection, 226 
Conches, Feuillet de, 87 
Condict, Silas, 314 
Congress, First, under the Constitution, 

244,359-362 
Congress, Library of, collection, 212-213 
Congress, Peace — see Peace. 
Congreve, William, 71, 93, 94, 124, 129, 

189 
Connecticut Historical Society Collec- 
tion, 214-215 
Connecticut MSS., 214 
Constitution, Signers of the, 335-338, 

265 
Constitutional Convention, 191 
Contee, Benjamin, 314, 361 
Continental Congress of 1774, 295-297 
Continental Congress, 25, 191, 195, 196, 

197, 198, 201, 204, 211, 212, 217, 220, 

222, 227, 229, 243, 246, 261, 262, 263, 



311; Presidents of the, 298 
Continental Navy Board, 305 
Convention with Indians at Albany, 289- 

290 
Conversations on Autographs between 
Mr. Old and Mr. Young, 240-282 

First, on advisability of collecting, 240- 
245 

Second, on Right names but wrong 
men, 245-250 

Third, on handwriting at different 
periods of a man's life, 250-255 

Fourth, on Forgeries, 256-261 

Fifth, Rarity and Scarcity of auto- 
graphs, 261-270 

Sixth, American Poets, 270-275 

Seventh, Arrangement of a collection, 
275-282 
Conway, Martin F., 358 
Conway, Gen. Thomas, 190, 211, 339; 

autograph rare, 266 
Cook, Burton C, 358 
Cook, Capt. James, 123, 127, 144, 163 
Cooke, George Fred, 129 
Cooke, Joseph P., 314 
Cooke, Philip Pendleton, 270; autograph 

extremely rare, 272 
Cooper, J. Fenimore, 183 
Cooper, John, 314; autograph rare, 264 
Cope, Sir Walter, 158 
Corday, Charlotte, 146 
Corneille, Pierre, 22, 137, 142, 145, 163, 

209 
Corneille, Thomas, 139 
Cornell, Ezekiel, 304, 314 
Cornhill Magazine, 259 
Corning, Erastus, 354 
Corser sale, 155 
Cortez, 162 
Costa, Emanuel da, 91 
Cotton, Sir John, 210 
Cotton, Sir Robert, 86 
Coudray, Philippe du, 76 
Cousin, Victor, 87 
Cowley, Abraham, 94, 127 
Cowper, William, 189, 221 
Coxe, Tench, 314, 333 
Coypel, Noel, 1 14 
Crabbe, 174 

Craik, Dinah Maria, 274 
Cranach, Lucas, 136, 152 
Crane, Gen. John, 339 



INDEX 



373 



Crane, Stephen, 296, 314 
Crawford, William H., 347 
Crisneld, John W., 356 
Crisp, Charles F., 352 
Crittenden (John J.) papers, 213 
Cromwell, Oliver, 55, 99, 127, 128, 133, 

163, 111, 243 
Cromwell, Richard, 99 
Crowninshield, Francis B., 354 
Cruger, John, 293 
Cullom, Alvin, 356 
Cumberland, 175 
Cumming, William, 314; autograph very 

rare, 263 
Cumnock Express, 56 
Cunningham, 174 
Curtis, Samuel R., 358 
Cushing, Nathan, 314 
Cushing, Thomas, 295, 314 
Custis, John Parke, 344 
Custis papers, 217 
Cuvier, 176 

Dagobert I, 209 

Dait, Carlo, 221 

D'Alembert, 176 

Dallas, George M., 348 

Dalton, Tristram, 314, 359 

Dampiere, Madame, 115 

Dana, Francis, 301, 303, 314, 329, 332, 

335 
Dane, Nathan, 314 
Danforth, Elliot, 33-35, 197-200, 268; 

Sale, 75; Prices of the Signers at the 

sale, 77-78 
Danforth, Thomas, 192 
Daniel Sale, 155 
Daniell, Walter V., 82 
Danielson, Timothy, 314 
Danneker, Johann Heinrich von, 152 
Dante, 47 
Danton, 166 
D'Arblay, Madam, 175 
Darnley, Lord, 104 
Darwin, 175 
Dati, Carlo, 73, 221 
Davenant, Sir William, 94, 129 
Davenport, Rev. John, 192 
Davey, Samuel — -Guide to the Collector 

of Historical Documents, 7 
Davidson, Lucretia M., 270, 271, 272, 273 



Davidson, Margaret M., 270, 271, 272, 

273 
Davie, William R., 338 
Davis, David, 349 
Davis, George, 356 
Davis, John W., 352 
Davis, Robert, C. 170, 179, 180 
Davy, Sir Humphrey, 176 
Dawson, John, 314 
Dayrolles, J., 91 
Dayrolles, S., 91 
Dayton, Elias, 314, 339 
Dayton, Jonathan, 314, 336, 351 
Dealers in autographs, 79 

American, 82-84 

English, 81 

French, 79, 80 

German, 82 
Dealers, Individual, see 

Barker, Frederick, 81 

Benjamin, William Evarts, 83 

Benjamin, Walter R., 83 

Boerner, C. G., 82 

Brown, Andrew, 55 

Burns, Charles De F., 82, 83 

Campbell, William J., 84 

Charavay family, 79, 232 

Charavay, Etienne, 80 
Eugene, 80 
Gabriel, 80 
Jacques, 79, 80 
Madame, 80 
Noel, 80 

Colin, Albert, 82 

Daniell, Walter V., 82 

Evans, Mr., 73 

Goodspeed, Charles E., 83 

Haas, Otto, 82 

Heise, John, 83 

Henrici, Karl Ernst, 82 

Hirsch, Emil, 82 

Liepmannssohn, Leo, 82 

Madigan, P. F., 83 

Madigan, Thomas, 83 

Maggs Bros., 82 

Moxon, Edward, 54 

Murray, John, 53, 54 

Naylor, Frederick, 81 

Pearson, J., & Co., 82 

Pickering, William, 73 

Quaritch, Bernard, 72, 73, 82, 221 

Rosenbach, A. S. W., 84 



374 



INDEX 



Dealers, Individual, see 

Sabin, Joseph, 83 

Schulz, Otto August, 82 
" Richard Zeune, 82 

Stargardt, J. A., 82 

Stillie, James, 55, 56, 67 

Waller, , 80 

" John, 80 

Wheeler, F., 82 

White, — r - y 54 

Zeune, Richard, 82 
Deane, Silas, 296, 314; papers, 214 
De Borre, Chevalier De Preudhomme, 

339; autograph very rare, 266 
Declaration of Independence — see Sign- 
ers. 
Defoe, Daniel, 124, 156, 164, 168, 204 
DeHaas, John Philip, 340; autograph 

rare, 266 
De Hart, John, 296, 314 
Delambre, 176 
Delancey, James, 291 
Delassus, Charles Dehault, papers, 218 
Denney, William, 
Denning, William, 302 
Denon, 176 
Dent, George, 351 
Dent, John F., 356 
Department — see Admiralty, Finance, 

Marine, Navy, Post Office, State, War, 

War and Ordinance. 
Descartes, Ren6, 46, 114, 123 
Deshon, John, 305 
Deshoulieres, Antoinette Ligier de la 

Garde, 140 
Desmarets, M., 120 
Desmoulins, Camille, 70, 144, 151 
De Stael, Madame, 176 
Devereux, Robert — see Essex. 
De Witt, Charles, 314 
Diana of France, 99, 126 
Diana of Poictiers, 99, 114, 126, 127, 138, 

164 
Diaz, Narcisse, 131 
Dibdin, Charles, 174 
Dick, Samuel, 315 
Dickens, Charles, 30, 31, 53, 184, 274 

Mutual Friend MS., 216 
Dickinson, John, 294, 296, 315, 330, 

333, 336 
Dickinson, Philemon, 315, 359 
Diderot, 176 



Dillenius, 175 

Dillon, John, 88, 128 

Dillon sale, 71, 73, 128-129, 130, 156 

Disreputable collectors, 28-38 

D'Istria, Capo, 177 

Dodd, Dr., 178 

Dodge, William E., 355 

Dodsley, 178 

Dolomieu, Marquise de, 87 

Donadieu, Abb6, 119 

Doniphan, Alexander W., 357 

Donnadieu, A., 71, 72, 73, 74, 88, 95, 95- 
109, 121, 231, 281 

Doolittle, James R., 358 

Doria, Andrea, 148 

Dow, Moses, 315 

Drake, Sir Francis, 129 

Drake, J. Rodman — autograph ex- 
tremely rare, 273; change in his hand- 
writing, 252 

Draper, Lyman C, MS. collection, 228, 
279-280 

Drayton, William Henry, 315, 331 

Dreer, Ferdinand J., 171, 180; collec- 
tion, 226, 279 

Drexel Institute Collection, 215-216 

Dryden, John, 124, 127, 156, 168, 204 

Duane, James, 296, 302, 315, 330, 333; 
papers, 220 

Dubrunfaut, 87, 143, 280 

DuChesne, Andre, 86 

DuCoudray, Philippe, 340; autograph 
extremely rare, 265 

Dudley, Robert, 97; see Leicester. 

Dudley, Thomas, 192 

Duer, William, 303, 315, 330; papers, 
219 

Duffield, Samuel, 315 

Dumas, Alexandre, 30, 87 

Duncan, Alexander, 354 

Dunlop, Miss, 165 

Dunois, Jean, Comte de Longueville et 
de, 114, 126, 144 

Dunster, Henry, 192 

Duplessis, Armand Jean, see Richelieu. 

Duportail, Gen. Louis Lebegue, 340 

Dupuy, M., 121, 166 

Duquesne, Abraham, 146 

D'Urfey, Thomas, 94 

Durer, Albrecht, 149 

Durkee, Charles, 358 

Duvall, Gabriel, 337 



INDEX 



375 



Duyckinck, Evart A. and George L., 
papers, 221; Cyclopedia of American 
Literature, 270 

Dyer, Eliphalet, 293, 295, 301, 315 

Eck, Johann Maier, 153 

Edgeworth, Maria, 175 

Edmund, brother of Edward IV, 156 

Edmunds, George F., 349 

Edward IV, of England, 99, 108, 156, 
164, 168 

Edward VI, of England, 99, 151, 168 

Edwards, Pierpont, 315 

Edwards, Timothy, 315 

Egerton, Lord, 210 

Egerton MSS., 20 

Elbert, Gen. Samuel, 315, 340 

Eliot, John, 183, 192, 200 

Elizabeth of France, sister of Louis XIII, 
100 

Elizabeth of France, sister of Louis XVI, 
100, 126 

Elizabeth, Madame, 44 

Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, 100, 111 

Elizabeth, Queen of England, 20, 24, 71, 
72, 73, 97, 100, 106, 115, 117, 127, 133, 
156, 164, 169, 111, 189, 207, 217, 226, 
243; variations in her autograph, 254 

Ellery, William, 77, 306, 308, 315, 329 

Ellis, E. W. H., 357 

Ellsworth, Oliver, 302, 315, 336, 359; 
papers, 215 

Elmer, Jonathan, 301, 315, 359; con- 
fused with Rev. Jonathan, 248 

Elzevier, Abraham, 115 

Emery, J., 94 

Emmet, Dr. Thomas Addis, 170, 180, 
268; collection in New York Public 
Library, 180 

Endicott, John, 192 

English collectors, 86, 87, 88 

English court hand, 288 

English dealers, 81 

Erasmus, Desiderius, 129, 135, 146, 148, 
154, 164 

Ericsson, 212 

Espartero, 30 

Essex, Earl of, 100, 127 

Estrades, Godefroi, Comte d', 100 

Estrees, Gabrielle d', 115 

Estrees, Jeanne d', 115 



Etting, Frank M., 170, 179 

Etting Collection, 179, 226 

Ettrick Shepherd, see Hogg (James). 

Euripides, 15, 47 

European noted collections, 85-169 

European Public Collections, 208-210 

Evans, auctioneers, 92 

Evans, Mr., 73 

Evans, John, 315; autograph rare, 264 

Eveleigh, Nicholas, 315 

Evelyn, John, 93, 100, 162 

Ewing, Thomas, 357 

Ewing, Thomas, Jr., 358 

Eylau, Battle of, 14 

Fabert, Abraham, 140 

Facsimiles, etc., in British Museum, 288 

Facsimiles sold as originals, 67; detection 
of, 68; books of, 283-288 

Fairbanks, Charles W., 350 

Fairfax, Miss, 167 

Falconer, Capt. Nathaniel, 306 

Falconer, William, 94 

Falstaff, Sir John, 169 

Farnese, Alexander, 126 

Febiger, Gen. Christian, 340 

Federal Administration, First, 220 

Federal Congress, First, 198 

Federal Convention, autographs, 187, 
220, 226, 229, 264, 265; Members, 335- 
338 

Fell, John, 315 

Felton, assassin, 123 

Fenelon, Francois de la Mothe Salignac, 
140, 209 

Ferdinand, King of Spain, 144, 217 

Fermoy, Chevalier de Roche, 340; auto- 
graph extremely rare, 265 

Ferry, Thomas W., 349 

Fessenden, William P., 353 

Festel, M. du, 109 

Few, William, 315, 338, 360 

Field, David Dudley, 354 

Field, Eugene, 274 

Fielding, Henry, 124, 127, 129 

Fillmore, Millard, 346, 348 

Fillon, Benjamin, 87, 131-137, 262, 280 

Fillon Sale, 71, 74, 131, 143, 231; cata- 
logue, 131, 287 m 

Finance, Revolutinary Department of, 
301-302 

First Congress — see Constitution. 



376 INDEX 



Fisher, Hendrick, 293 Frederic William, of Brandenburg, 151 

Fitch, John, papers, 213 Frelinghuysen, Frederick, 301, 316 

Fitch, Governor, papers, 214 Frelinghuysen, Frederick T., 355 

Fitzburgh, Peregrine, 344 French, Ezra B., 353 

Fitzgerald, John, 344 French Academy of Sciences, 45 

&2k U8 £w^ In %*B f a %u French and Indian War, 211 

Fitzhugh, Wi ham, 315; confused with French collect 86 87 

another William, 247 ~ , , , ~,r> ok 

Fitzsimons, Thomas, 315, 333, 336, 361 French dealers, 79-80 

Fleming, William, 315; confused with French Revolution autographs, 125, 203 

Col. William, 248 Fries, Comte de, 231, 281 

Florence, Prince of, 116 Frontenac, 204 

Floyd, William, 77, 296, 302, 306, 308, Frost, George, 316 

315, 361 Frye, Gen. Joseph, 340 

Fogg, Dr. John S. H., 170, 181, 217, 279 Frye, William P., 350 

Folsom, Nathaniel, 295, 301, 315 Furno, Nicolas de, 116 

Fontaine, Jean de la, 127 Fuseli, 176 
Foote, Samuel, 95 

Forbes, James, 306, 315; autograph Gadsden, Christopher, 64, 183, 294, 297, 

extremely rare, 263 316, 340 

Forbes, John M., 354 Gage, Gen. Thomas, 199 

Ford, Gordon L., papers, 222 Gaigni&res, Roger de, 86 

Foreign Affairs, Secretaries, 300 Gaillard, John, 348 

Forgers of autographs, 40-68; Vrain Lu- Gainsborough, Thomas, 94, 123, 205 

cas, 42-51; "George Gordon Byron," Gale, George, 361 

53-54; Alexander Hamilton Smith, Galignani, 68 

54-60; Baron von Gerstenbergh, 61- Galileo Galilei, ,73, 115, 132, 144,156,164 

63; James W. Turner, 64-65; Robert Galland, Antoine, 115 

Spring, 65-67; Conversation on, 256- Gallatin, Albert, papers, 213, 220 

261 Galloway, Joseph, 296, 316 

Forman, Ezekiel, 302 Gandini, Marc Antonio, 109 

Forrest, Uriah, 315 Gansevoort, Leonard, 316, 333 

Foster papers, 227 Garcia de Paredes, Don Diego, 144 

Foster, Abiel, 316, 360 Garcilasso de la Vega, 115 

Foster, Lafayette S., 349 Gardiner, Addison, 355 

Foster, Stephen C, 353 Gardiner, Silvester, 316; papers, 217 

Foster, Theodore, 359 Gardner, John, 316; autograph ex- 
Fowler, Asa,^353 tremely rare, 263 

Fox, George, 94, 123, 129 Gardner, John, Sr., mistaken for his son, 
Fox, Lieut. Gen., 106 263 

France, collecting in, 17 Gardner, Joseph, 316 

Francis I, of France, 24, 71, 101, 103, Gardner, Sylvester, 316; Papers, 217 

114, 115, 118, 127, 129, 133, 139, 140, Garfield, James A., 347 

143, 164, 168, 169. Garique, 119 

Francis II, of France, 101, 115, 127,140 Garrick, David, 89, 94, 128, 129, 169, 
Frank, Sebastian, 149 169, 179, 188, 192, 207 

Franklin, Benjamin, 66, 77, 81, 93, 199, Garth, S., 94 

212,225,226,292,307,309,316,336 Gates, Horatio, 211, 304, 340; papers, 
Franklin, Thomas E., 355 219 

Frederic II, of Prussia, 101, 115 Gay, John, 94, 124, 129 

Frederic, King of Bohemia, 101 Geibel, Dr. Carl, collection, 153-154 

Frederic V, King of Bohemia, 151 Gelston, David, 316 



IXDEX 377 



Generals c: the Revcluricn, "4. 7(5, 181, Gerham, Nathaniel. 299. 316, 335 

IS". 191, 195, : : ', 195. 216, 211, 21", Gc venters— see Colonial. 

:::. :::. ::". 229, 265, 339-543 Gncdti, The, 16 

Generals c: me Civil War, 191, 19S, 24: Graham, Tarr.es— see Mcnrcsf. 

Ger.erais ::' the Cenrederacv, 195 Granam. Mrs.. 1"5 

George III, o: England, 103 Gramont, Pniiibert, Comte de, /.'l 

Gerard. 1"6 Grancey, M. de, 113 

Gerard. Marc Aatcitte — see Sain: A ''nam. Granzer. Francis, 354 

Germ- dealers, 52 Grant, U. S., 199. 347 

German auxiliaries, 222 Grantham, Isaac. 316 

German---, cehectrnz :n. 1" Grattan. Henrv, 58 

Germius, Tuiius, 4"" Grav. Tr.tmas. 2:4 

Germ.-, Elbrldze, ."7, 30S, 316. 329. 332, Grz- sir, WLliam, 299, 304. 316. 344, 

335. 34S. 360 360 

Gerscenberzh, Barm von. 61-63 Greater., Gen. Tchn. 340 

Gervais, T:nn Louis, 302. 316 Greeiem Horace, handwriting hard to 
:-.::e.s. R. W., 1") reao. 2:: 

Giroon, Edward, 71, 93, 124,175 Greene, Gen. Nathaniel, 199, 201, 211, 
o.: ::r.s, William, 316: ratiter and son 340; auttgr a clo recherche, 2jS6; papers, 

often confased, 24> 214, 22" 

Gibson, Gen. Term, 302. 340 Grescrv XIII. Poo-e, 133 

Gmcrd. i"5 Greuce, Tear. Bartiste. 146 

Gimcrd. Lady, 16" Grimm Cyrus, 299. 316 

jileSj Edward, 316; autograph very rare, Grimm Samuel, 362 

263 Griliparzer, Franz, 152 

William B., 362 Grlmaldi. Joseph, i4 

Gillies, 175 Grimes. James W., 35S 

3 .. .:n. Alexander, 316 Grlmke, Thomas 5., 1"0 

3.. mm. Tchn Taller, 316 Griswold. A.m:n W., 183 

Gilman, Nichclus, 316. 335. 360 Greesbeck, William S., 357 

Gilmer. R::er:. 1":. 1"1, 1"2. 1"3, 1"5; Gronovius. 1": 

collection. l"l-i"9 Grctius. 175 

Gist. Mordecai, 124, 340 Grout, Jonathan. 360 

Giuiie Romano. 122, 149 Grew. Galusr.a A.. 352 

Glcver, Gen. John, 340 < Gruachy, M. de, 113 

G.ucl<. CI .- s::3h Wiltibald. "A 12:. 240, Grouchv, Marshall, 207 

122, 2*24 ' Guericke, Ottc von— iacsimile rrem inis 

Godwin, William, 175 ; MS . : :" CloudesUy, Album Amicorum, 19 

216 ' Guesclin, Bertrand du, 209 

Goethe, Johann W. von, ///, 1~6 Guieciardim, Francisco, 116 

Gcldcni. 1"4 Guise, Due de. 22. 104 

Gcluso-crcuon. Rrrerc. 297. 316 Guise, Francois oe Lorraine. Due de, 116 

Golds be re uzh. Rcberc. Tr.. Tuooe ::' the Guise. Henri oe Lorraine. Due ce. 116 

Surreme Ce-urc._ contused with me Guise, Henri II de Lorraine, Due de, 116 

Congressman, 24" Guise. Louis oe. Cardinal — see L:~sme. 

Goldsbrrcuzh, William I\, 356 Gui::t. B7 

Goldsmith, Oliver, 94, 127, 129, 156, 169, Gunby, John, 340 

__ 1"6. 214. 2~~. 221 Gunn. James, 316, 360 

Gortaut — see Bi-:n. Guthrie, James, 357 

-_-: odhue, Bern amir.. 360 Guvcn, teanne Marie Beuvier oe la 
Goodrich. Jmm Z., 354 Mette.\'r.' 

Goeospeed, Cnarles hi., S3 Guyse, Comte de, 113 



378 



INDEX 



Gwinnett, Button, 22, 23, 75, 77, 91, 191, 

194, 196, 198, 226, 256, 310, 316 
Gwynn, Eleanor, 164 

Haas, Otto, 82 

Habersham, John, 316 

Habersham, Joseph, 317 

Hackleman, Pleasant A., 357 

Hale, John Mills, 200-202 

Hale, Sir Matthew, 127 

Hale, Nathan, 75, 76, 193, 201, 204; 

papers, 214 
Hall, Hiland, 353 
Hall, John, 317 

Hall, Lyman, 77, 194, 310, 317 
Hallam, Henry, 175 
Halleck, Fitz Greene, 274 
Hamilton, Alexander, 175, 212, 215, 317, 

333, 336, 344 
Hamilton, Lady, 160 
Hamlin, Hannibal, 349 
Hammond, James H., 212 
Hancock, John, 77, 194, 298, 299, 317, 

329 
Hand, Edward, 317, 340 
Handbook of Autographs, 286 
Handel, George Friedrich, 136, 204 
Hanson, Alexander Contee, 344 
Hanson, John, 298, 307, 317, 330 
Hardouin, Jules — see Mansart. 
Hardwicke Collection, 221 
Hardy, Samuel, 317 
Haring, John, 2%, 317 
Harlan, James, 358 
Harleian MSS., 88 
Harley, Robert, 86, 210 
Harnett, Cornelius, 301, 317, 330 
Harris, B. D., 353 
Harris papers, 227 
Harrison, Benjamin, 77, 297, 303, 309, 

317 
Harrison, Benjamin (President), 347 
Harrison, Col. Robert H., 184, 193, 303, 

337, 344; autograph rare, 265 
Harrison, William, 317; another William 

confused with him, 247 
Harrison, William Henry, 187, 346 
Hart, John, 309, 317 
Harte, Bret, 75, 274 
Hartley, Thomas, 317, 361 
Harvey, William, 218 
Harvie, John, 317, 330 



Hathorn, John, 317, 361 

Hatton, Christopher, 123 

Hauterive, Comte d', 87 

Hauy, 176 

Haverford College, Roberts collection, 

179 
Hawkins, Benjamin, 317, 360 
Hawkins, Isaac R., 356 
Hawkins, Sir John, 133, 164 
Hawkins, Philemon, 334 
Hawley, Joseph — collection, 222 
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 75 
Haydn, Joseph, 189, 204 
Hayes, Rutherford B., 347 
Hazard, Ebenezer, 307 
Hazard, Jonathan J., 317 
Hazen, Gen. Moses, 340 
Hazlitt, William — "Four Generations of 

a Literary Family," 130, 155 
Hearne, 175 
Heath, Baron, 88 

Heath, Gen. William, 211, 304, 340 
Heine, 30 
Heise, John, 83 
Hemans, 174 
Hemsley, William, 317 
Henderson, David B., 352 
Henderson, John, 129 
Henderson, Thomas, 317 
Hendricks, Thomas A., 349 
Henkels, Stan. V., 
Henrici, Karl Ernst, 82 
Henrietta Maria, 101 
Henry II, of France, 99, 103, 104, 112, 

113, 114, 116, 164 
Henry III, of France, 24, 70, 115, 125, 165 
Henry IV, of France, 14, 21, 24, 73, 89, 

96, 99, 101, 102, 109, 115, 116, 118, 

125, 127, 129, 156, 164, 169 
Henry V, of England, 18, 101 
Henry VI, of England, 102 
Henry VII, of England, 164, 184 
Henry VIII, of England, 24, 44, 72, 98, 

116, 129, 133, 151, 156, 157, 164, 177, 

202, 204 
Henry, James, 302, 317; two of same 

name confused, 248 
Henry, John, 317, 359 
Henry, Patrick, 317, 337 
Henry, Patrick, Jr., 297 
Henry William, 317; two of same name 

confused, 248 



INDEX 



379 



Herkimer, Nicholas, 200 

Herod, 47 

Hertz, M., 231, 281 

Herz von Hertenried Collection, 153-154 

Hewes, Joseph, 77, 269, 297, 310, 317 

Hey ward, Thomas, 77 

Heyward, Thomas, Jr., 194, 301, 310, 

317, 331 
Hibbard papers, 219 
Hibbert sale, 260 
Hickerson, William P., 356 
Hiero, 47 

Hiester, Daniel, 361 
Higginson, Stephen, 318, 332 
Hill, Aaron, 94 
"Hill," John, 56, 57 
Hill, Whitmill, 307, 318 
Hillhouse, James, 318 
Hillhouse, William, 318 
Hindman, William, 318 
Hirsch, Emil, 82 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania — see 

Pennsylvania. 
Hitchcock, Reuben, 357 
Hobart, Garrett A., 350 
Hobby, Sir Thomas, 96 
Hobhouse, Cam., 174 
Hodges, collection, 105, 108 
Hodgson, Rev. Francis, 168 
Hofer, Andreas, 147 
Hogarth, William, 95, 205, 207 
Hogg, James, 60 
Hogun, Gen. James, 340; autograph very 

rare, 266 
Holcroft, 175 
Holden, Thomas, 318 
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 184, 274 
Holten, Samuel, 299, 318, 329 
Hone papers, 220 
Hooper, Lucy, 270; complete Poetical 

Works, 272; autograph extremely rare, 

272 
Hooper, William, 77, 269, 297, 310, 318 
Hopkins, George W., 352 
Hopkins, Stephen, 292, 295, 308, 318 
Hopkinson, Francis, 68, 77, 305, 309, 

318 
Hoppin, William W., 354 
Hoppner, J., 95 
Hornblower, Josiah, 318 
Horsmanden, Daniel, 289 
Horton, Valentine B., 357 



Hosmer, Titus, 318, 329 

Hough, Harrison, 357 

Houston, John W., 355 

Houston, William Churchill, 302, 318, 

333, 336 
Houstoun, John, 318 
Houston, William, 318, 338; autograph 

rare, 265 
Howard, Benjamin C, 356 
Howard, John Eager, 318 
Howard, Martin, Jr., 292; autograph 

rare, 265; confused with Martin, Sr., 

249 
Howard, Thomas — see Norfolk. 
Howe, Gen. Robert, 340 
Howell, David, 318 
Howell, James— Instructions for Forreine 

Travel, 17 
Howley, Richard, 318 
Hubbard, Henry, 351 
Huet,Abb6, 119 
Huet, Bishop, 102 
Huet, M., 98 
Huger, Daniel, 318, 362 
Huger, Gen. Isaac, 340 
Hull, Thomas, 94 
Humboldt, 176 

Humphreys, Charles, 296, 318; auto- 
graph very rare, 263, 264 
Humphreys, David, 344 
Humpton, Richard, 340 
Hunter, R. M. T., 352 
Huntingdon, Samuel, 77, 185 
Huntington, Benjamin, 307, 318, 360 
Huntington, Gen. Jedediah, 340 
Huntington, Samuel, 185, 298, 308, 318, 

329 
Hutchinson, Thomas, 289, 291 
Huth, Frederick, 155 
Huth, F., & Son, 155 
Huth, Henry, 154-156; sale, 23, 72, 13 y 

154-158; catalogue, 288 
Hutson, Richard, 318, 331 
Hutten, Ulrich von, 145, 148 
Huygens, Constantin, 107, 136, 164, 166 
Hyde, Anne — see York. 
Hyde, Henrietta, 109 
Hyde, Henry (Clarendon), 91 

Iberville, 204 

Increase in value of autographs, 69 

Indians, Convention with, 289 



380 



INDEX 



Ingalls, John Jay, 350 

Ingersoll, Jared, 318, 336 

Ink used, detection of forgeries, 260-261 

Inventaire des Autographes, 287 

Irvine, William, 318, 340 

Irving, Washington, 75, 184, 271 

Isabella, Queen of Spain, 179, 217 

Isographie des Hommes Celebres, 284 

Iturbide, 177 

Ives, Mr., 88 

Izard, Ralph, 318, 360 

Jackson, Andrew, 190, lid, 346 
Jackson, Dr. David, 319; confused with 

another David, 248 
Jackson, Gen. Henry, 341 
Jackson, James, 362 
Jackson, Jonathan, 319 
Jackson, Gen. Michael, 341 
Jackson, William, 344 
James I, of England, 24, SS, 102. 116, 

123, 127 
James II, of England, 109 
James III, of England, 102 
James VI, of Scotland, 72, 100 
James, Amaziah B., 354 
Janin, Jules, 30 
Jay, John, 296, 298, 300, 319 
Jeanne d' Arc, 114, 169 
Jefferson, Thomas, 66, 77,218, 299, 309, 

319, 346, 347; papers, 227 
Jeffrey, 175 
Jehannot, 121 
Jenifer, Daniel, of St. Thomas, 302, 319, 

337 
Jenkinson, Hilary, 288 
Jesus Christ, 47 
Joan of Arc — see Jeanne. 
Johannes Secundus, 128 
John "Le Bon," 208 
John II, of France, 208 
Johnson, Andrew, 194, 347, 349 
Johnson, Charles, 288 
Johnson, Charles (N. C), 319 
Johnson, Reverdy, 356 
Johnson, Richard M., 348 
Johnson, Samuel, 71, 93, 124, 175, 176, 

221 
Johnson, Thomas, 319 
Johnson, Thomas, Jr., 297 
Johnson, Waldo P., 357 



Johnson, Sir William, 185, 291; papers, 
213,223,224 

Johnson, William Samuel, 293, 295, 
319, 335, 359; Papers, 214 

Johnston, George, 344 

Johnston, Samuel, 269, 298, 319, 360 

Joliet, 204 

Joline, Adrien H., 205-207, 277-281; 
Meditations of an Autograph Collector, 
15, 205, 277-281; Rambles in Auto- 
graph Land, 205 

Jones, Allen, 319 

Jones, Charles C, 195-196 

Jones, Gabriel, 319 

Jones, George W., 357 

Jones, John Paul, 75, 76, 184, 190, 192, 
201, 204, 212 

Jones, John W., 352 

Jones, Joseph, 301, 319 

Jones, Noble W., 319 

Jones, Samuel, 319 

Jones, Dr. Walter, 334 

Jones, Sir William, 175 

Jones, Willie, 319, 338; autograph rare, 
265 

Jonson, Ben, 124, 204 

Jordaens, C, 123, 152, 164 

Jordaens, Jakob, 136 

Jordan, Dora, 188 

Jordan, Dorothea, 94 

Josephine — see Beauharnais. 

Julius II., Pope, 1 16 

Judas, 47 

Kalb, Baron de, 76, 190, 193, 341; auto- 
graph rare, 266 

Kant, Immanuel, 152 

Katharine of Arragon — see Catharine. 

Kauffmann, Gerard — see Mercator. 

Kean, Edmund, 94, 176 

Kean, John, 319 

Kearney, Dyre, 319 

Keats, John, 23, 53, 124, 157, 158, 169, 
189, 204, 218, 238-240; migration of 
his letter to Fanny Brawne, 238-239 

Keifer, J. Warren, 352 

Kemble, John P., 94 

Kemble family, 176 

Kennedy, John S., 57, 180 

Kent, James, paper, 213 

Kepler, John, 102, 149 

Kerr, Michael C„ 352 



INDEX 



381 



Kieft, William, 203 

Killengworth, Thomas, 108 

Killigrew, Sir W., 124 

King, John A., 355 

King, Rufus, 319, 335, 359 

King, Thomas, 94 

King, William, papers, 217 

King, William R., 348 

King papers, 220 

Kingsley, Charles, 274 

Kinloch, Francis, 319 

Kinsey, James, 296, 319 

Kinsey, John, 290 

Kleist, Heinrich von, 152 

Kneller, Sir Godfrey, 95, 127, 205 

Knox, Gen. Henry, 305, 341 

Knox, John, 55, 164, 227; papers, 217 

Knyphausen, Baron, 192 

Korner, Karl Theodor, 188 

Kosciuszko, Thaddeus, 201, 341 

Kotzebue, 176 

La Bruyere, 47 

La Caille, M., 87 

Lacordaire, 30 

Lacroix, 176 

La Fayette, Comtesse de, 140 

La Fayette, Marquis de, 177, 184, 202, 

227, 341 
La Fontaine, Jean de, 43, 44, 90, 116, 

127, 134, 141, 145, 152, 169, 209 
Lagrange, 176 
Lalande, 176 
Lamarque, 176 
Lamb, Charles, 73, 94, 102, 157, 175, 184, 

207; MS. of Essay on Witches, 216 
Lamb, Gen. John, 341; papers, 219 
Lamb, Marv, 207 
Lamballe, Princess, 100, 104, 117, 119, 

129, 165 
Landon, Letitia E., 174 
Langdon, John, 319, 335, 359 
Langdon, Woodbury, 319 
Langworthy, Edward, 303, 319, 331 
Lannes, Marshall, 70, 140 
Lannoye, Madame de, 115 
Lansdowne, Marquis of, 210 
Lansing, John, 319, 336 
Laplace, 176 

La Rochefoucauld — see Rochefoucauld. 
La Sabli£re, Marguerite Hessin de, 141 
La Salle, 204 



Las Casas, Fray Bartolome de, 165 
Laso, Garcias — see Garcilasso. 
Lasso, Orlando, 153 
Latimer, Henry, 319 
La Tremoille, Louis II, Sire de, 117 
Laumoy, Gen. de, 341 
Laurance, John, 319, 344, 361 
Laurens, Henry, 298, 301, 320, 331, 

338 
Laurens, John, 344 
Laussac, M. de., 116 
La Valliere, Louise de, 117, 123,141,146 
Laverdet, Mr., 110 
Law, Jonathan, papers, 214 
Law, Richard, 296, 320 
Lawrence, John, 
Lawrence, Thomas, 290 
Lawrence, Sir Thomas, 176 
Lazarus, 47, 50; spurious letter of, 49 
Learned, Gen. Ebenezer, 341; auto- 
graph rare, 266 
Le Brun, Charles, 102 
Le Brun, Madame Vigee, 176 
Le Couvreur, Adrienne, 90, 135, 141 
Lee family papers, 227, 228 
Lee, Arthur, 302, 320 
Lee, Gen. Charles, 76, 193, 211, 341 
Lee Francis Lightfoot, 77, 303, 310, 

320, 330 
Lee, Henry, 320 
Lee, Richard Bland, 320, 362 
Lee, Richard Henry, 78, 297, 299, 309, 

320, 330, 337, 360 
Lee, Thomas Sim, 320, 337 
Leffingwell, Prof. E. H., 190-194, 196, 

197, 247, 248, 263, 270 
Leggett papers, 219 
Leicester, Robert Dudley, Earl of, 97, 

117, 123 
Leisler, Jacob, 203 
Lennox, Matthew, Earl of, 104 
Lenclos, Anne de (Ninon), 117, 146 
Lenox Library, 57 
Leo X., Pope, 117, 759 
Leonard, George, 360 
Leopold, 177 
Leopold, Archduke, 103 
Le Sage, Alain Ren6, 134, 141, 145, 152, 

165 
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim, 1 17, 145, 188 
Letellier, 43, 119, 138 



382 



INDEX 



Lewis, Andrew, 193, 341 ; autograph very 

rare, 266 
Lewis, Francis, 78, 306, 308, 320, 330 
Lewis, George, 345 
Lewis, Major, 185 

Lettres Autographes Composent la Collec- 
tion de M. Alfred Bovet, 287-288 
L'Hommedieu, Ezra, 320 
Libanius the Sophist a Collector, 15 
Liepmannssohn, Leo, 82 
Ligne, Prince de, 231, 281 
Lincoln, Abraham, 21, 75, 76, 181, 190, 

194, 198, 199, 200, 202. 241, 347; 

Emancipation Proclamation, 224; 

Handwriting did not change, 253. 
Lincoln, Benjamin, 304, 341 
Lincoln, Levi, 320 
Lispenard, Leonard, 293 
Lithographs — see Facsimiles. 
Livermore, Samuel, 320, 360 
Livingston, Philip, 78, 194, 289, 293, 

296, 308, 320 
Livingston, Robert, 
Livingston, Robert C, 333 
Livingston, Robert L., 
Livingston, Robert R. Sr., 293 
Livingston, Robert R., 300, 304, 320, 

333 
Livingston, Walter, 302, 320 
Livingston, William, 202, 2%, 320, 336 
Lloyd, Edward, 320 
Lloyd, James, 320 
Lloyd, Thomas, 68 
Lloyd papers, 219 
Locke, John, 102, 204 
Logan, Stephen T., 358 
London Magazine, 57 
Long, Pierse, 320 
Longfellow, Henry W., 75, 274; Family 

papers, 217 
Loomis, A. W., 355 
Lope de Vega — see Vega. 
Lorraine, Charles de — see Mayenne. 
Lorraine, Henry de — see Guise. 
Lorraine, Louis de Guise, Cardinal de, 

116, 117 
Louis VII, of France, 117 
Louis IX, of France, 118 
Louis XI, of France, 90, 110, 132, 138 
Louis XII, of France, 24, 111, 118, 126, 

138, 141 
Louis XIII, of France, 100, 102 



Louis XIV, of France, 71, 86, 103, 117, 
123, 141, 146 

Louis XV, of France, 103, 146 

Louis XVI, 44, 100, 103, 118, 126, 129, 
138 

Louis XVII, 

Louis XVIII, 165 

Louise de Savoie, 103 

Louisiana, Spanish archives of, 218 

Lovelace, Francis, 203 

Lovell, James, 320, 329 

Low, Isaac, 296, 320 

Lowell, James Russell, 75, 274 

Lowell, John, 320, 332 

Lowndes, Rawlins, 320 

Loyola, Ignatius, 116, 137, 204 

Lucas, Vrain, forger, 44-50 

Ludwell, Philip, papers, 227 

Lulli, Giambattista, 136 

Luther, Martin, 46, 73, 103, 127, 129, 
137, 143, 144, 145, 148, 151, 154, 157, 
165, 189, 260; Letter presented to 
William II, of Germany by J. Pierrc- 
pont Morgan, note, 154 

Luynes, Charles d'Albert, Due de, 118 

Lynch, Thomas, New York merchant, 
265 

Lynch, Thomas, 297 

Lynch, Thomas, Sr., 294, 320; auto- 
graph rare, 264, 265 

Lynch Thomas, Jr., 22, 23, 64, 65, 74, 78, 
178, 180, 191, 196, 201, 226, 310, 320; 
signature scarce, 256, 264, 265; only 
one letter known, 180; source of his 
signatures, 257; forgeries, 256-258 

Lytton, Bulwer, 274 

Mabillon, dom Jean, 90 
McClellan, Gen. George B., 181, 212 
McClurg, James, 337 
McComb, Eleazer, 320 
McCullough, Hugh, papers, 213 
McCurdy, Charles J., 354 
MacDonald, Frederick R., His In a Nook 

with a Book, 232-234 
McDougall, Alexander, 307, 321, 341; 

papers, 219 
McDowell, Joseph, 321 ; autograph very 

scarce, 264 
MacGregor, Rob Roy, SS 
McHenry, James, 321, 337, 345 
Machiavelli, Nicolo, 118, 128 



INDEX 



383 



Mcintosh, Lachlin, 321, 341 
McKean, Thomas, 294, 297, 298, 309, 

321, 330; papers, 225-226 
McKennan, William, 355 
Mackenzie, Henry, 60 
Mackenzie, James, 55, 56, 57 
McKinley, John, 321 
McKinley, William, 347 
McKinney, R. J., 356 
Macklin, Charles, 94, 175 
McLane papers, 219 
Maclay, William, 359 
McLean, John, papers, 213 
McLene, James, 320 
McNeill, Hector, 192 
Macon, Nathaniel, 320, 351 
Madigan, P. F., 83 
Madigan, Thomas, 83 
Madison, Dolly, 212 
Madison, James, 306, 346; papers, 227 
Madison, James, Jr., 321, 333, 337, 362 
Mahomet, 47 
Maine Historical Society collections, 

217-218; Fogg collection, 181, 217, 279 
Maintenon, Madame de, 204 
Maistre, Xavier de, 30 
Major, 260 

Malebranche, Nicolas, 132, 145 
Malesherbes, 142, 174 
Malet, Giles, 112 

Malherbe, Francois de, 103, 126, 165 
Mallet, David, 94 
Mangum, Willie P., 348 
Manning, James, 321 
Mansart, Jules Hardouin, called, 135 
Manton, Daniel, 321 
Manzoni, 175 

Marat, Jean Paul, 70, 90, 141 
Marchant, Henrv, 301, 321, 329 
Marcy, William L., 212 
Margaret of Austria, 132, 164 
Marguerite d'Angouleme, 141, 
Marguerite de France, 118 
Marguerite de Valois — see Valois. 
Maria Louisa, 177 
Marie Antoinette, 44, 70, 90, 103, 104, 

119, 129, 132, 138, /d* 
Marillac, Louis de, 1 19 
Marine, Agent of, 307 
Marine Committee assistants, 305-306 
Marine, Secretary of, 307 
Marshall, John, 228 



Marshall, Thomas R., 350 

Martin, Alexander, 321, 337 

Martin, Alexandre, 87 

Martin, Jacques, 104 

Martin Luther, 321, 333, 337 

Martin, Thomas, 356 

Marvel, Andrew, 93, 124 

Mary I, of England, 104, 119, 157 

Mary, Queen of Scots, 104, 118, 128, 129, 

133, 141, 144, 157, 165, 168, 169, 189, 

192 
Mary Magdalene, 47; spurious letter, 50 
Maryland governors, 197 
Mason, George, 321, 334, 337; papers, 

213 
Mason, James M., 348 
Massillon, J. B., 141 
Mather, Cotton, 192, 211 
Mather, Increase, 211 
Mather, Richard, 211 
Mathews, Gen. George, 341, 362 
Mathews, John, 304, 321, 331 
Matlack, Timothy, 321 
Matthews, John, 304 
Matthias, Emperor of Germany, 20 
Maury, Matthew F., 212 
Maximilian, Emperor of Germany, 20, 

118 
Maxwell, Gen. William, 341 
Mayenne, Charles de Lorraine, Due de, 

104 
Mayer, Brantz, 170, 182 
Mazarin, Cardinal, 71, 90, 98, 99, 121, 

133, 140, 162 
Mazarine Gallery, 208 
Meade, Richard K., 345 
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independ- 
ence, 228 
Medicis, Catherine de, 24, 101, 104, 112, 

116, 125, 132, 133, 139, 144, 168, 189 
Medicis, Cosmo de, 119 
Medicis, Francesco de, 147 
Medicis, Lorenzo de, 96, 116, 120, 121, 

123 
Medicis, Marie de, 90, 104, 133, 163 
Medicis, Pietro de, 111, 117 
Melancthon, Philipp, 148, 165, 188, 260 
Menage, M., 121 
Menage, Gilles, 126 
Mendelssohn, Moses, 152 
Mendoza, Don Inigo Lopez de, 149 



384 



INDEX 



Mercator, Gerard Kauffmann, called, 
149 

Mercer, Hugh, 76, 201, 341 ; autograph 
rare, 266 

Mercer, James, 321 

Mercer, John, 

Mercer, John Francis, 321, 337 

Meredith, George, 274 

Meredith, Samuel, 321 

Meredith, William M., 355 

Mersenne, Pere, 114, 115 

Metastasio, 174 

Mexican war papers, 218 

Mezeray Francois Eudes, 119 

Michaux, 176 

Michelangelo Buonarotti, 119, 135, 138, 
149, 163 

Mickley, Joseph J., 170, 181 

Middleton, Arthur, 78, 310, 321; ad- 
vance in values, 269-270, 270 

Middleton, Henry, 297, 298, 321; auto- 
graph very rare, 264 

Mifflin, Thomas, 296, 298, 303, 304, 
321, 336, 341, 345 

Mignard, Pierre, 90, 119, 126, 146 

Migrations and Pedigrees of Autographs, 
230-240 

Milan, Duke of, 164, 168 

Miller, Nathan, 321 

Miller, Dr. Ph., 102 

Millet, Jean Francois, 131 

Milligan, Samuel, 356 

Milton, John, 73, 99, 221, 226, 253; 
autograph in British Museum, 20 

MinuitjPeter, 203 

Mirandola — see Pico. 

Missouri Historical Society Collection, 
218 

Mitchell, Nathaniel, 321 

Mitchell, Stephen Mix, 321 

Mole, M. dela, 113 

Moliere, J. B. Poquelin, 104, 119, 134, 
145, 209 

Monk, 93 

Monmerqu6,87;sale, 89-91, 117,118,120 

Monmouth, James, Duke of, 105, 128 

Monroe, James, 185, 322, 346, 360; 
papers, 227 

Montaigne, 47, 209 

Montalembert, 30 

Montcalm de Saint Veran, Louis Joseph, 
Marquis de, 119 



Montgomery, 174 

Montgomery, Gabriel, Comte de, 105 

Montgomery, John, 322 

Montgomery, Joseph, 322; autograph 
very rare, 263 

Montgomery, Gen. Richard, 76, 199, 201, 
341; autograph rare, 266 

Montgomery, William, 322 

Montigny, Lucas de, 87, 124, 280; col- 
lection, 125-126 

Montmorency, Anne de, the Constable, 
115, 120 

Montmorency, Henry II, Due de, 105 

Montmorency, House of, 86 

Montrose, Marquis of, 128, 129 

Moore, Alfred, 200, 334 

Moore, Andrew, 362 

Moore, Gen. James, 193, 341; auto- 
graph rare, 266 

Moore, Dr. John, 168 

Moore, Thomas, 174 

Moore, William, 322 

More, Hannah, 175 

Morehead, Charles S., 357 

Morehead, J. M., 356 

Morgan, Gen. Daniel, 341 ; papers, 222 

Morgan, J. Pierrepont, 196; and the Lu- 
ther letter, note, 154 

Morgan, Lady, 175 

Morghen, 176 

Morrill, Lot M., 353 

Morris, Cadwalader, 322 

Morris, Gouverneur, 322, 330, 336 

Morris, Lewis, 78, 301, 308, 322 

Morris, Robert, 78, 302, 307, 309, 322, 
330, 333, 336, 359 

Morrison, Alfred, 88, 159, 160, 161, 237, 
243; sale, 159-169; catalogue, 160, 161, 
288 

Morse, Freeman H., 353 

Morse, Jedediah, 185 

Morton, John, 202, 294, 296, 309, 322 

Morton, Levi P., 350 

Mothe de Vaingfield, M. de la, 118 

Motte, Isaac, 322 

Moulton, Louise Chandler, 212 

Moultrie, Gen. William, 341 

Mowry, Daniel, 322 

Moxon, 54 

Moylan, Gen. Stephen, 341, 345 

Mozart, 149, 153, 154, 165, 189, 204 

Mucianus a collector, 15 



INDEX 



385 



Muhlenberg, Fredk. Augustus, 322, 351, 
361 

Muhlenberg, Gen. Peter, 341, 361 
Mumford, Paul, 322 
Munson, Capt. William, 193 
Murdock, William, 294; autograph ex- 
tremely rare, 265 
Murphy, 175 
Murrav, John, 53, 54 
Murray, Joseph, 289, 291 
Musee des Archives Nationales, 209 
Museum Thoresbyanum, 88 
Musgrave, Sir W 7 illiam, 88 
Myers, T. Bailey, 227; collection, 222 

Napoleon, 14, 73, 92, 105, 111, 139, 140, 
142, 144, 151, 165, 167, 188, 189, 206, 
207, 2X1 \ deterioration of autograph, 
254-255 

Nash, Abner, 322, 334 

Nash, Gen. Francis, 193, 341 ; autograph 
very r are, 266 

Nassau, Maurice of, 105 

Nassau, Philibert de, 113 

Naval Officers, 197 

Navarre — see Albret, Henri d\ 

Navarre, Queen of; see Albret, Jeanne d'; 
Valois, Marguerite de; Marguerite d' 
Angouleme. 

Navy Department, Revolutionary, 305 

Naylor, Frederick, 81 

Neilson, John, 322, 336 

Nelson, Lord, 53, 93, 106, 233; his letter 
to Thomas Lloyd, 68; his correspond- 
ence with Lady Hamilton, 160. 

Nelson, Thomas, Jr., 78, 309, 322, 337 

Netherclift, J. and F., Books of facsimile 
autographs, 284, 285, 286, 287 

Neuville, Chevalier de la, 76, 341 ; auto- 
graph extremely rare, 265 

Neve, Peter le, 87, 88 

Nevers, House of, 86 

Nevill, Gen. John, 342 

Newcomb, Simon, 212 

Newenham, Sir Edward, 158 

New Hampshire Historical Society Col- 
lection, 219 

New Madrid archives, 218 

Newton, Sir Isaac, 14, 45, 46, 93, 106, 
123, 128, 132, 193, 233 

New York Historical Society collection, 
219-220 



New York Dutch Governors, 203 

New York MSS., 224 _ 

New York Public Library collection, 

220-222; Emmet collection, 180, 220 
New York State Library collection, 222, 

224 
Nichols (John Gough) — Autographs of 

Royal, Noble, Learned and Remarkable 

Personages, etc., 18-19, 87, 283 
Nicola, Gen. Lewis, 342 
Nigro, Fr., 118 

Nixon, Col. John, 211, 305, 342 
Norfolk, John, Duke of, 99, 102 
Norfolk, Thomas Howard, Duke of, 120 
Norris, Isaac, 290, 292 
North Carolina signers, 269 
Northwestern Literary and Historical 

Society a fraud, 38 
Northumberland, Algernon, Earl of, 128, 

129 
Nostradamus, Caesar, 106 
Noyes, William Curtis, 354 

Oates, Titus, 128 

Oberleitner, Charles, 286 

Occam, Sampson, papers, 214 

Ogden, Matthias, 342 

Ogden, Robert, 293 

Old Congress — see Continental Congress. 

Old, Mr., Conversations with Mr. Young, 

240-282 
Olden, Charles S., 355 
Orange, Prince of, 113 
Orange, William the Silent, Prince of, 

151, 166 
Orange, William II, of, 108 
Orleans, Due d', 132; see Valois. 
Ormond, Marquis of, 23, 127, 163, 234- 

237 
Orr, James L., 352 
Orth, Godlove S., 357 
Osborne, Adlai, 322 
Osgood, Samuel, 302, 322 
Otis, James, Jr., 293 
Otis, Samuel A., 322 
Ovid, 47 

Oxford, Earl of, 86 
Oxford, Harley, Earl of — see Harley. 

Paar, Ludwig, Count, 146; collection, 

146-150 
Paca, William, 78, 297, 309, 322 



386 



INDEX 



Page, John, 362 

Page, Mann, Jr., 301, 322; confused with 

Mann, Sr., 247 
Paine, Elisha, 322 
Paine, Ephraim, 322 
Paine, Robert Treat, 78, 295, 308, 322 
Paine, Thomas, 93, 199 
Palfrey, William, 345 
Palmer, Barbara — see Cleveland. 
Palmer, John, 94 
Palmer, John M., 358 
Pandolphino, 108 
Pare\ Ambroise, 90, 120, 126 
Paredes — see Garcia. 
Parison sale, 138 

Parker, John, 322; autograph rare, 264 
Parker, Josiah, 362 
Parma, Archduchess of, 128 
Parma, Duke of — see Farnese. 
Parnell, Thomas, 94 
Parr, Dr., 175 
Parr, Lord, 98 
Parr, Catherine, 98, 157 
Parsons, Gen. Samuel, 342 
Parsons, Theophilus, 332 
Parsons, W., 94 
Partridge, George, 323, 360 
Partridge, Oliver, 291, 293 
Pascal, Blaise, 45, 46, 123, 126, 132, 209 
Pasta, 176 

Paterson, Gen. John, 342 
Paterson, William, 323, 336, 359 
Patten, John, 323; autograph rare, 264 
Patterson, Gen. Samuel, 323 
Paul I, of Russia, 192 
Payne, John Howard, 184 
Peabody, Nathaniel, 323 
Peace Congress of 1861, 198, 245, 353- 

358 
Pearson, J. & Co., 82 
Pedigrees of autographs, 230-240 
Peiresc, Fabri de, 86 
Peery, William, 323 
Pell, Philip, 323 
Pellisson, 137, 142, 166 
Pendleton, Edmund, 297, 323; papers, 

227 
Pendleton, Nathaniel, 338 
Penn, John, 78, 269, 292, 310, 323, 330 
Penn, Thomas, 199 
Penn, William, 75, 76, 178, 188, 192, 203, 

207, 225 



Penn MSS., 225 

Penns, The, 177 

Pennington, William, 352 

Pennsylvania Historical Society, collec- 
tions, 224-227; Penn MSS., 225; 
Washington letters, 225; Wayne Col- 
lection, 225; Wilson papers, 225; Mc- 
Kean papers, 225; Poinsett papers, 
226; Conarroe papers, 226; Dreer Col- 
lection, 180, 226, 279; Etting Collec- 
tion, 179, 226; Buchanan letters, 226; 
Franklin letters, 225 

Pennsylvania University; Hale Collec- 
tion, 201 

Pepperill, Sir William, papers, 216 

Pepys, Samuel, 93 

Percy, Algernon — see Northumberland. 

Pericles, 47 

Perrault, Charles, 90 

Perrugin, Petro Vanucci, called, 135 

Perry, Belmont — autograph imposter, 32 

Perry, John J., 353 

Person, Thomas, 323; autograph rare, 
264 

Pescara, Marquise de — see Colonna, 
Vittoria. 

Peter, Saint, 47, 49 

Peter the Great of Russia, 147 

Peters, Hugh, 129 

Peters, Richard, 292, 304, 305, 323 

Pettit, Charles, 323 

Peutinger, Conrad, 148 

de Peyster papers, 219 

Philip I, of Spain, 128 

Philip II, of Spain, 70, 100, 106, 119, 
133, 147, 169, 177 

Philip IV, of Spain, 100 

Philip V, of Spain, 92 

Philippe II, of France, Philippe Auguste, 
120 

Phillips, Lawrence B., 287 

Phillips, Peter, 323 

Phillips, Sir Thomas, 88 

Phillips, Gen. William, 228 

Photographic reproductions — see Fac- 
similes. 

Picard, Ludovic — French imposter, 29 

Piccini, Nicolas, 142 

Piccolomini, yEneas, see Pius II. 

Pickering, John, 323, 335 

Pickering, Timothy, 303 

Pickering, William, 73 



INDEX 



387 



Pico deiia Mirandola, Giovanni, 133 

Pierce, Franklin, 346 

Pierce, William, 323, 338 

Pilate, Pontius, 47 

Pinckney, Charles, 323, 338 

Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, 338, 342 

Pinckney, Thomas, 323 

Pinker ton, John, 175; papers, 216 

Pinknev, Edward C.,2"0; extremely rare, 

272 ' 
Pippi, Giulio — see Giulic Romano. 
Pirkheimer, Wilibald, 148 
Piron, Alexis, 90, 106 
Pitkin, William, 292, 323 
Pius II, Pope, 120 
Pixerecourt, Guilbert de, 87 
Pizarro, 162 
Plancy, M. de, 114 
Plater, George, 323 
Piatt, Zephaniah, 323 
Plinv, 16, 47 
Poe, Edgar A., 75, 184, 193; MS. of 

Murders in the Rue Morgue, 216 
Poinsett, Joel R., papers, 226 
Poisson — see Pompadour. 
Pole, Edmund de la — see Suffolk. 
Pole,_ Reginald, Cardinal, 128 
Poliziano, Aneelo, 120 
Polk, James K., 346, 351 
Polk, Thomas, 323_ 
Pollock, James, 355 
Poltrot, assassin, 116 
Pomeroy, Seth, 193, 342; autograph 

rare, 266 
Pomeroy, Theodore M., 352 
Pompadour, Madame de, 70, 90, 142, 146 
Pompeius Secundus, a collector, 16 
Pompey, 47 

Pomponne, Arnauld de, 140 
Pontius Pilate, 4" 
Poor, Enoch, 342 
"Poor Man's Praver," 56, 57 
Poore, Ben Perlev, 170, 182 
Pooe, Alexander, 22, 59, 93, 94, 106, 124, 

175, 189, 221 
Popham, Sir John, 106 
Poquelin, J. B. — see Moliere. 
Porson, Richard, 93, 123, 175 
Portsmouth, Duchess of, 120 
Post Office Department, Revolutionary 

307 
Potter, John F., 358 



Potts, Richard, 323 

Poussin, Nicholas, 1Q6 

Pratt, James T., 354 

Preble, Edwin, papers, 213 

Presidents of the Continental Congress, 

229, 29&-299 
Presidents pro tern of the Senate, 347- 

350 
Presidents of the United States, 74, 181, 
187, 191, 195, 19", 198, 204, 206, 212, 
216, 218, 229, 244, 250, 346-347; 
papers in the Library of Congress, 212 
Pretender, the Old — see James 111. 
Pretender, the Youns, 55 
Prerost D'Exiles, L'Abbe, 90, 134, 142, 

145 
Price, Rodman M., 355 
Prices of other thinss than autographs, 

15 
Prices from 1827 to 1859,^71, 72 
Prices at Bovet sale, 72, 73 
Cist sale, 77-78 
Cohn sale, 73, 74 
Danforth sale, 77-78 
Dillon sale, 73 
Donnadieu sale, 72, 73, 74, 95- 

109 
Fillon sale, 74, 132-137 
Huth sale, 72, 73 
Young sale, 74 
Monmerque sale, 89-91 
Upcott sale, 92-93 
TerTt sale, 183 
LefEngwell sale, 196 
Priestlev, 176 

Prior, Matthew, 94, 95, 124 
Proctor, Bryan W., 175 
Progressive decrease in market value of 

autographs, 69-78 
Pseudo Autosraph Collectors, 29 
Ptolemy HI, 5 
Public Collections in America, 210-229; 

in Europe, 208-210 
Pulaski, Count, 76, 342; autograph very 

rare, 266 
Pulci, Luigi, 120 
Putnam, Israel, 76, 190, 201, 250, 342 

autograph very rare, 266 
Putnam, Rufus, 342 
Puttick & Simpson, 95, 157, 285 
Puv, M. de, 107, 121 
Pynchon, Col. John, 200 



388 



INDEX 



Qualities that determine the value of 

autographs, 21 
Quaritch, Bernard, 72, 73, 74, 82, 221, 237 
Querouille, Louise de — see Portsmouth. 
Quick, John, 94 

Rabelais, Francois, 42, 43, 45, 47, 120, 

128, 132, 138, 166 
Racan, Honorat de Bueil, Marquis de, 

142 
Racine, Jean, 43, 44, 47, 71, 128, 134, 

138, 166, 174 
Raffles, Rev. Dr., 88, 178 
Raleigh, Sir Walter, 23, 106, 127, 129, 158 
Rameau, Jean Phil., 136, 142 
Ramsay, David, 298, 323 
Ramsey, Nathaniel, 323 
Randall, Samuel J., 352 
Randolph, Edmund, 323, 333, 337, 345 
Randoplh, Joseph F., 355 
Randolph, Peyton, 295, 297, 298, 323 
Randolph papers, 227 
Rantzau, Joseph, Comte de, 121 
Raphael Sanzio, 47, 106, 121, 135, 138, 

153, 154, 163; migration of a sketch, 

231, 281 
Rapin, Pere, 141 
Rarity of autographs — see Conversation 

Five. 
Read, George, 297, 309, 324, 333, 336, 

359 
Read, Jacob, 324 
Read, James, 306 
Read, T. Buchanan, 274 
Reade, Charles, 274 
Recherche autographs, 266 
Reed, Gen. James, 342 
Reed, Joseph, 324, 330, 342, 345 
Reed, Thomas B., 352 
Reed papers, 219 
Reid, David S., 356 
Reid, James R., 324 
Rembrandt, 74, 107, 128, 136, 152, 166 
Rene d' Anjou, 121 

Replies for requests for autographs, 26 
Reuchlin, Johann, 137, 145, 148 
Revere, Paul, 193, 201 
Revolutionary Cabinets, 300-306 
Revolutionary War — see Generals. 
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 95, 129, 156 
Rhoads, Samuel, 296, 324; autograph 

rare, 264 



Rhode Island Historical Society collec- 
tion, 227 

Ricci, Francesco, 168 

Rich collection, 221 

Richard II, of England, 18 

Richard III, of England, 107, 166 

Richardson, Samuel, 71, 95, 124, 175, 
189, 207 

Richelieu, Cardinal, 74, 119, 127, 128, 
133, 162; autograph of his secretary 
like his, 255 

Ridgeley, Henry, 355 

Ridgeley, Richard, 324 

Riley, James Whitcomb, 274 

Rillbank, Crescent MSS., 56 

Ringgold, Thomas, 294 

Rives, William C., 356 

Roberdeau, Daniel, 324, 330 

Roberts, Charles, 179; Roberts Hall at 
Haverford College, 179 

Roberts, Dr. W. H., 57 

Robespierre, 71, 148, 166 

Rochefoucauld, Francois, Due de la, 90 

Rochefoucauld, Francois VI, Due de la, 
141 

Rochester, Lord, 105 

Rodney, Oesar, 78, 293, 297, 309, 324 

Rodney, Ceesar A., 

Rodney, George B., 355 

Rodney, Thomas, 185, 324 

Rogers, John, 297, 324; autograph very 
rare, 263 

Rogers, Samuel, 174 

Rohan, Henri, Due de, 90 

Rohan, Prince de, 111 

Roland, Madame, 71, 91 

Roman, J. Dixon, 356 

Romano — see Giulio Romano. 

Romney, George, 95 

Ronald, William, 334 

Ronsard, Pierre de, 133, 142, 144 

Roosevelt, Theodore, 347, 350 

Root, Jesse, 303, 304, 324 

Rosa — see Salvator Rosa. 

Roscoe, 175 

Rosenbach, A. S. W., 84 

Ross, David, 324, 334; autograph ex- 
tremely rare, 263; another David some- 
times passes for him, 247 

Ross, George, 78, 296, 309, 324 

Rousseau, Jean Jacques, 91, 107, 176 

Rousseau, Theodore, 131 



INDEX 



389 



Rowe, Nicholas, 124, 129 

Rowland, David, 293; autograph rare, 

265 
Roy, Rob, 55 
Rubens, Peter Paul, 107, 121, 128, 136, 

153, 154, 166, 176 
Ruffin, Thomas, 356 
Ruggles, Timothy, 293; autograph rare, 

265 
Rumsey, Benjamin, 301, 324 
Rupert, Prince, 93, 107, 123, 128, 129 
Rush, Benjamin, 309, 324 
Russell, Gen. William, 342 
Rutherford, John, 78, 289, 303 
Rutledge, Edward, 297, 303, 310, 324 
Rutledge, John, 294, 297, 299, 324, 338 

Sabin, Joseph, 83 

Sabliere — see La Sabliere. 

Saint Albans, Viscount — see Bacon. 

Saint Amant, Sieur de, 142 

Saint-Beuve, 87 

St. Clair, Arthur, 224, 299, 325, 342 

Saint Genevieve Archives, 218 

St. George, Chevalier de — see James III. 

Saint Louis Archives, 218 

St. Marthe, M. de, 107 

Saint-Pierre, Bernadin de, 91 

Sales, noted — see Collections and Col- 
lectors. 

Sales, St. Francis de, 91, 107, 121, 134, 
144, 150, 204 

Salisbury, Robert Cecil, Earl of, 107 

Salmatius, 176 

Salvator Rosa, 123 

Samblancay, Baron de, 1 14 

Sand, Madame Georges, 30 

Sandeau, Jules, 31 

Santi, Raffaele, 135 

Sardou, Victorien, 87 

Saumaise, Claude de, 107 

Savage, Richard, 94 

Savonarola, Girolamo, 132 

Savoy, Duke of, 144 

Saxe- Weimar, Duke of, 96, 177 

Saxony, Augustus, Duke of, 165 

Saxony, John, Duke of, 157 

Saxony, Duke of, 73 

Scala, Bartolomeo, 121 

Scaliger, Joseph Justus, 107 

Scammel, Col. Alexander, 193, 201 

Scarron, Paul, 134, 142, 145, 166 



Schiller, 61, 62, 63, 188 

Schlegel, 176 

Schubert, Franz, 189 

Schulz, Otto August, 82 

Schureman, James, 324, 333, 361 

Schuyler, Gen. Philip, 21 1, 324, 342, 359 

papers, 222 
Science des Autographes, La, 85 
Scott, Dr., his Autograph Collecting, 14, 

54, 260; his Guide to the Collector of 

Historical Documents, 7 
Scott, Gen. Charles, 342 
Scott, Colville, 56 
Scott, Gustavus, 324 
Scott, John Morin, 304, 324 
Scott, Thomas, 361 
Scott, Sir Walter, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 

71, 93, 94, 108, 174, 221; forgeries, 54, 

55 
Scudder, Nathaniel, 324, 330 
Scudery, Madame de, 141 
Searle, James, 306, 324 
Seddon, James A., 356 
Sedgwick, Theodore, 324, 351, 360 
Selden, John, 94, 124, 128 
Seney, Joshua, 324, 361 
Sensier, Alfred, 87, 130-131, 143, 280 
Sergeant, Jonathan D., 324 
Settle, E., 94 

Seurin, Chastelain de la Motte, 122 
Severn, Joseph, 158 
Sevier, John, 362 
Sevigne, Marquise de, 121 
Sforza, Galeas Maria Visconti, 121 
Sforza, Ludovicus Marie, 108 
Shadwell, Thomas, 94 
Shakespeare, 46 

Sharpe, William, 302, 307, 325 
Shea, 176 

Sheldon, Gen. Elisha, 342 
Shelley, Percy B., 53, 54, 74, 93, 94, 124, 

145, 158, 175, 189 
Shenstone, William, 94 
Shepard, Gen. William, 342 
Sherburne, Henry, Jr., 291 

Senior and Junior often confused, 249 
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 93, 94, 177 
Sherman, James S., 350 
Sherman, John, 349; papers, 213 
Sherman, Roger, 78, 295, 301, 302, 303, 

308, 325, 329, 335, 360 
Sherman, Gen. Wm. T., 212 



390 



INDEX 



Shippen, Edward, 

Shippen, William, 325; Father and son 
often confused, 248 

Shore, Sir John, 175 

Shrewsbury, John Talbot, Earl of, 122 

Sickingen, Franz von, 144, 148, 154 

Siddons, Mrs. Sarah, 94, 166 

Sidney, Sir Philip, 128. See also Sydney, 

Signers of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, 74, 77, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 
183, 183, 187, 191, 195, 196, 197, 198, 
200, 204, 206, 211, 217, 220, 222, 223, 
226, 229, 256, 308-310; prices at Cist 
and Danforth sales, 77-78; at Tefft 
sale, 183 

Signers — see Articles of Confederation, 
< Constitution, etc. 

Simms, William Gilmore, 212 

Sims, George R. — Among my Autographs ,8 

Sims, Richard, 286 

Sinnickson, Thomas, 361 

Sismondi, 175 

Sitgreaves, John, 325 

Six Nations, Convention with, 289 

Sloan collection, 20 

Sloane, Sir Hans, 86, 210 

Slaughter, Thomas C., 358 

Sloughter, Henry, 203 

Smallwood, Gen. William, 325, 342 

Smith, Adam, 93 

Smith, Alexander Hamilton, 54-60 

Smith, "Antique," 54-60 

Smith, Benjamin, 325, 345 

Smith, Caleb B., 357 

Smith, Charles John — Book on Auto- 
graphs, 283 

Smith, Horace, 174 

Smith, James, 309, 325 

Smith, James C, 354 

Smith, John J. — American Historical 
and Literary Curiosities, 285, 286 

Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 301, 303, 325, 
330 

Smith, Margaret Bayard, 212 

Smith, Melancton, 325 

Smith, Merewether, 325, 334; autograph 
rare, 264 

Smith, Richard, 296, 325 

Smith, Thomas, 325 

Smith, William, 306, 325 

Smith, William, 362 



Smith, William, Sr., 291; often confused 
with Junior, 249 

Smith, William Laughton, 362 

Smith, William S., 345 

Smollett, Tobias, 81, 124, 129 

Somerset, Edward, Duke of, 108 

Somes, Daniel E., 353 

"Song to the Rosebud," S6 

Sophocles, 15 

Sorel, Agnes, 122, 138, 209 

Sotheby & Wilkinson, 54, 161, 288 

Sotheby, Samuel Leigh — Ramblings in 
the Elucidation of the Autograph of Mil- 
ton, 253, 254, 259, 260 

Southard, Samuel L., 348 

Southern Confederacy, 198 

Southerne, Thomas, 94, 124, 129, 189 

Southey, Robert, 174, 201, 221, 232, 271, 
273 

Spaight, Richard Dobbs, 325, 338 

Spalatinus, C. G., 103 

Spanish Archives in Missouri, 218 

Sparhawk, John, 325 

Speakers of the House of Representa- 
tives, 351-352 

Spencer, Joseph, 194, 304, 325, 342 

Speroni, 108 

Spinoza, 47, 128, 149, 152 

Sprague, William B., 170, 173, 178, 184, 
185, 186, 187, 190, 267, 272, 280 

Spring, Robert, 65-67 

Spurious autographs, 40-68 

Stamp Act Congress, 191, 198, 204, 220, 
226, 264, 293-294; scarce names, 265 

Standish, Myles, 203 

Stanley, Col. Nathaniel, 290 

Stanton, Edwin M., 212 

Stanton, Joseph, Jr., 359 

Stargardt, J. A., 82 

Stark, Gen. John, 342; autograph very 
rare, 266 

State Department of the Revolution, 300 

State Historical Society — see Wisconsin. 

Steele, John, 362 

Steele, Sir Richard, 93, 124, 175 

Stella, Jacques, 135 

Stephen, Adam, 342; papers, 213 

Stephens, William H., 357 

Sterne, Laurence, 14, 71, 95, 124, 166, 
178, 207 

Steuben, Baron, 343; papers, 219 

Stevens, John, Sr. (N. J.), 325 



INDEX 



391 



Stevens, John, Sr. (Vt.), papers, 224 

Stevens, John, Jr., often mistaken for 
John, Sr., 247 

Stevens, Thaddeus, papers, 213 

Stevenson, Adlai E., 350 

Stevenson, Andrew, 351 

Stevenson, Robert Louis, 274 

Steward, Mr., 99 

Stewart, Charles, 325 

Stewart, Dugald, 175 

Stewart, Gen. Walter, 342 

Stewart papers, 219 

Stillie, James, 55, 56, 57 

Stirk, Samuel, 325 

Stirling, Earl of, 211, 343 
papers, 219 

Stockton, Richard, 78, 309, 325 

Stockton, Robert F., 355 

Stoddard, Col. John, 289 

Stokes, John, 325 

autograph very rare, 264 
Stone, J. C., 358 

Stone, Michael Jenifer, 362 

Stone, Thomas, 78, 299, 309, 325, 337 

Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 

24, 25, 108, 122 
Strahan, William, 81 
Strong, Caleb, 325, 335, 359 
Strong, Jedediah, 325 
Stryk, Samuel — Facsimile from his Alba 

Amicorum, 20 
Stryker, Thomas J., 355 
Stuart, Charles E., 349 
Stuart, Henry — see Darnley. 
Stuart, Mary — see Mary, Queen of Scots. 
Sturges, Jonathan, 325, 361 
Stuyvesant, Peter, 188, 203, 207 
Sue, Eugene, 31 
Suetonius, 47 

Suffolk, Edmund, Earl of, 108 
Sullivan, James, 326, 332 
Sullivan, Gen. John, 219, 295, 326, 343 
Sully, Due de, 85 
Summers, George W., 356 
Sumner, Increase, 326 
Sumner, Gen. Jethro, 343 
Sumter, Gen. Thomas, 326, 362 
Supreme Court of the U. S., 198, 206 
Swain, Gov. David L., Collection, 268- 

269 
Swan, John, Major in Revolution, 247; 
mistaken for John Swann, 246 



Swann, John, autograph very rare, 263, 
326; John Swan's autograph mistaken 
for it, 246 

Swann, John, M. C. from N. C, 247 

Swedenborg, Emanuel, 129 

Swift, Dean Jonathan, 23, 71, 93, 94, 124, 
129, 167, 175 

Swift, Gen. Heman, 343 

Sydney, Sir Philip, 94 

Sykes, James, 326 

Sylvester, Peter, 361 

Symmes, John Cleves, 326 

Taft, William H., 347 

Talbot, John — see Shrewsbury. 

Talcott, Joseph, papers, 215 

Tarb£, 87 

Tasker, Benjamin, 292 

Tasso, Bernardo, 108 

Tasso, Torquato, 22, 91, 134, 167, 176 

Taste for collecting autographs, 13 

Tavanne, M. de, 116 

Tavanne, Vicomte de, 117 

Taylor, Bayard, 274 

Taylor, George, 202, 309, 326; confused 

with a N. J. coast guard of same name, 

249 
Taylor, John W., 351 
Taylor, Zacharv, 190, 346 
Tefft, Israel K., 170, 172, 182, 190, 257 
Telfair, Edward, 302, 326, 331 
Terrail, Seigneur de, 111 
Teulet, Mr., Ill, 113 
Thacher, George, 326, 360 
Thacher, John Bovd, 202-205 
Thackerav, Wm. M., 53, 55, 58, 184, 207, 

274; MS. of Lecture on George III, 216 
Thane's British Autography, 87, 283 
Thatcher, Benjamin B., 170, 171 
Thomas, Isaiah, 210; History of Printing, 

Thomas, John, 343; autograph rare, 266 
Thomas papers, 220 
Thompson, Ebenezer, 326 
Thompson, Gen. William, 343 
Thomson, James, 94, 124, 129 
Thoreau, Henrv D., 274 
Thoresbv, Ralph, 87, 88, 91 
Thornton, Matthew, 78, 308, 326 
Thornton, Presly P., 345 
Thorwaldsen, 176 
Thou, Jacques Auguste de, 112 



392 



INDEX 



Thouars, Vicomte de — see La Tremoille. 

Tiberius, 47 

Tickell, Thomas, 94 

Tilghman, Edward, 294 

Tilghman, Matthew, 297, 326 

Tilghman, Tench, 345 

Tilliers, Comte de, 118 

Tilton, James, 326 

Titian, 135, 149, 153, 167 

Tompkins, Daniel D., 348; papers, 223 

Totten, A. W. O., 356 

Townshend, Lord, 106 

Trapier, Paul, Jr., 326; confused with his 
father, 248 

Treadwell, John, 326 

Treasury Board, 301 

Treat, Amos S., 354 

Tremont, Louis Philippe Joseph, Baron 
de, 87, 109, 110, 231, 280, 281; collec- 
tion, 24,43, 143; sale, 71, 109-122 

Trivulce, Cardinal de, 114, 119 

Trollope, Anthony, 274 

Tromp, Martin Harpertzoon, 122 

Trumbull, John, 345 

Trumbull, Jonathan, 351; papers, 215 

Trumbull, Jonathan, Jr., 302, 326, 345, 
361; papers, 215 

Trumbull, Joseph, 296, 304, 326 

Trumbull, Lyman, papers, 213 

Tuck, Amos, 353 

Tucker, St. George, 333 

Tucker, Thomas Tudor, 326, 362 

Tuckerman, Henry T., 272 

Tupper, Gen. Benjamin, 343 

Turenne, Comte, 105, 111 

Turenne, Marshall, 100 

Turner, Dawson, 88; collection, 122-124; 
sale, 71; catalogue, 285 

Turner, James W., 64-65 

Turner, Thomas J., 358 

Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 99 

Twiller, Wouter van, 203 

Tyler, John, 346, 348, 356 

Underwood, Levi, 353 

Upcott, William, 88, 91-95; collection, 

91-95; sale, 71,91-95, 95, 99, 100, 101, 

102, 104, 107, 109 
Urbain VIII, Pope, 122 

Vadier, 138 

Vaingfield, M. de la Mothe de, 118 



Valentinois, Duke of — see Borgia, Ccesar. 
Valentinois, Duchesse de — see Diana of 

Poictiers. 
Vall£, Francois, papers, 218 
Valois, Charles le, 126 
Valois, Marguerite de, 118, 126, 129, 133, 

150 
Valois, Rene de — see Alencon. 
Values of autographs, 21; affected by 

condition, 24, 25; length, 25; celebrity, 

24; contents, 23; genuineness, 22; 

fashion, 25; whether 1. s. or a. 1. s., 25; 

increase in, 69-78. See Prices. 
Van Brugh, Sir John, 94 
Van Buren, Martin, 346, 348 
Van Cortlandt, Gen. Philip, 343 
Vancouver, George, 144 
Vandever, William, 358 
Van Dyck, Anthony, 136 
Van Dyke, Nicholas, 326, 330; father 

and son confused, 248 
Vane, Sir Henry, 108 
Van Rensselaer, Jeremiah, 361 
Van Schaick, Gozen, 343 
Vanucci, Pietro — see Perrugino. 
Varenne, Sire de la, 122 
Varick, Richard, 345 
Varnum, James M., 326, 343 
Varnum, Joseph B., 347, 351 
Vecelli — see Titian. 
Vega — see Garcilasso. 
Vega-Carpio, Felix Lope de, 135 
Vendome, Due de, 102 
Vercingetorix, 47 
Verneuil, M. de, 117 
Vernon, William, 305 
Veronese, Paolo Cagliari, called, 109, 122, 

123, 128, 136, 163 
Verulam, Baron — see Bacon. 
Vespucci, Emerico, 133, 167 
Vice Presidents, 250, 347-350 
Vicenza, Duke of, 105 
Victorys, Paolo de, 1 14 
Villandry, M. de, 120 
Villeroy, M. de, 96, 97 
Villeroy, Nicolas de Neufville de, 109 
Villiers, George — see Buckingham. 
Vincent de Paul, 109, 126, 142, 204 
Vinci, Leonardo da, 122, 167 
Vining, John, 326, 361; Senior and 

Junior often confused, 247 
Virgil, 16 



INDEX 



393 



Virginia Historical Society Collections, 

227-228 
Volney, 176 

Voltaire, 14, 7/, 115, 176 
Vose, Gen. Joseph, 343 
Vossius, 176 
Vouet, Simon, 123, 135 
Vroom, Peter D., 355 

Waddell, Rev. Moses, 212 
Wade, Benjamin F., 349 
Wadsworth, James, 326 
Wadsworth, James S., 354 
Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 326, 361; papers, 

215 
Wadsworth, Peleg, 326 
Wake, Sir Isaac, 100 
Waldstein, Albrect Wenzel Eusebius 

von, 144 
Walker, Benjamin, 345 
Walker, John, 327, 345, 360 
Walker, Timothy, 327 
Wallenstein, Count, 63, 64, 144, 147 
Waller, Edmund, 93, 94, 124, 128, 129 
Waller, John, 80, 81 

Waller, , 80 

Walpole, 176 

Walsh, W. S., Handybook of Literary 

Curiosities, 16, 26 
Walsingham, Sir Francis, 123 
Walton, George, 196, 301, 310, 327, 338 
Walton, Isaac — Life of Sir Henry Woot- 

ton, 18 
Walton, John, 327, 331 ; autograph very 

rare, 264; father and son confused, 248 
Wanley, Humphrey, catalogue of the 

Harleian MSS., 18 
War, Board of, 303; commissioners for 

the Board, 303 
War, Civil War letters, 245 
War, Revolutionary Department of, 303 
War, Revolutionary secretaries, 303- 

304 
War and Ordinance, Board of, 303 
War bur ton, 175 
Ward, Artemas, 304, 327, 343 
Ward, Henry, 293 
Ward, Samuel, 295, 327, 332 
Waring, Thomas, 306 
Warner, George F., 288 
Warren, James, 305, 327 
Warren, Joseph, 194, 201, 204 



Washburn, Cadwalader C, 358 

Washburne, Elihu B., papers, 213 

Washington, George, 75, 91, 95, 148, 158, 
167, 177, 185, 190, 194, 194, 196, 196, 
199, 202, 204, 206, 207, 211, 215, 220, 
225, 226, 297, 327, 337, 339, 346, 347; 
letter to Francis Hopkinson, 68; forged 
letters, 66, 67; letter about his gen- 
erals, 224; letters considered recherche, 
266; farewell address, 224; household 
papers, 224; letters in Pennsylvania 
and Virginia Historical Societies, 225, 
228; change in his handwriting, 252- 
253; his aides-de-camp, 344-345; his 
secretaries, 344-345 

Washington, Martha, 75, 76, 95, 200, 202, 
204, 207 

Washington, Mary, 75 

Waters, Richard P., 354 

Watson, John F., 286 

Watts, 174 

Wayne, Anthony, 76, 194, 343; auto- 
graph recherche, 266; papers, 225 

Weare, Mesech, 291 

Webb, Samuel B., 343, 345 

Webster, Daniel, 212, 219 

Weedon, George, 343 

Welles, Gideon, papers, 213 

Welles, Samuel, 291 

Wendell, Jacob, 289 

Wentworth, James, 327 

Wentworth, John, Sr., 301, 327 

Wentworth, John, Jr., 327, 329 

Wentworth, Joshua, 327 

Wentworth, Thomas — see Strafford. 

Wentworth, Sir Thomas, 23, 24 

Wesley, John, 233 

West, Benjamin, 176 

West, Benjamin (N. H.), 327, 335 

West, James, 88 

West Point Garrison's reply to Wash- 
ington, 211 

Weyman, Stanley, 274 

Wharton, John, 305, 306 

Wharton, Samuel, 327 

Wheeler, F., 82 

Wheeler, William A., 349 

Whipple, William, 78, 306, 308, 327 

Whitcomb, Gen. John, 343 

White, Alexander, 327, 362 

White, Henry Kirke, 93, 94, 124, 271, 273; 
handwriting never changed, 253 



394 



INDEX 



White, Hugh Lawson, 348 
White, James, 327 
White, John, 352 
White, Phillips, 327 
White, Thomas, 355 
White, Bp. William, 175 

White, , dealer, 54 

Whitgift, John, 128 

Whitman, Walt, 274 

Whittier, John G., 272, 274 

Wibird, Richard, 291 

Wickliffe, Charles A., 357 

Wilhelm— see Woedtke. 

Wilkinson, James, 343 

Wilkinson, Tate, 94 

William the Silent — see Orange. 

William II, of Orange — see Orange. 

William II, of Germany, note, 154 

Williams, Elisha, 292 

Williams, John, 327, 330 

Williams, J. B., 88 

Williams, Otho H., 343 

Williams, Roger, 187/ 188, 192, 203 

Williams, William, 78, 308, 327; papers, 

215 
Williamson, Benjamin, 355 
Williamson, Hugh, 327, 334, 338, 362 
Willing, Thomas, 327 
Wilmot, David, 355 
Wilson, Henry, 349; papers, 213 
Wilson, James, 78, 225, 303, 309, 327, 

336 
Wilson, Woodrow, 347 
Winder, William, 306 
Wingate, Paine, 327, 359 
Winthrop, Robert C, 187, 352 
Wirt, William, papers, 213 
Wisconsin Historical Society Collection, 

280 
Wisconsin State Historical Society's 

Collection, 228-229 
Wisner, Henry, 296, 327 
Witherspoon, John, 78, 212, 309, 327, 

330 
Woedtke, Baron de, 77, 343; autograph 

extremely rare, 266 
Wolcott, C. P., 357 



Wolcott, Erastus, 295, 328 

Wolcott, Oliver, 78, 302, 308, 328, 329 

Wolcott, Oliver (Sec. Treas.); papers, 215 

Wolcott, Robert, Sr., Wolcott, Robert, 
Jr., confounded, 249 

Wolcott, Roger, 290 

Wolcott, Roger, Jr., 292, 328; auto- 
graph rare, 265 

Wolfe, Gen. James, 123, 129, 167, 194 

Wolfe, Maj. Walter, 167 

Wolsey, Cardinal, 128 

Wood, John, 358 

Wood, Joseph, 328 

Woodford, Thomas, 307 

Woodford, Gen. William, 194 

Woodward, Henry, 94 

Woodward, William, 95, 174, 343 

Wool, John E., 355 

Wooster, David, 343 

Wotton, Sir Henry, 128 

Wordsworth, William, 95, 174 

Worthington, John, 291 

Wren, Sir Christopher, 94, 109 

Wright, John C, 357 

Wright, Turbett, 328 

Wycherly, William, 124, 129 

Wynkoop, Henry, 328, 361 

Wythe, George, 78, 309, 328, 337 

Yates, Abraham, 328 

Yates, Peter, 328 

Yates, Robert, 336 

York, Anne Hyde, Duchess of, 109 

York, Duke of — see James II. 

Young, Arthur, 175 

Young, John, 88, 126, 237; sale, 23, 71, 

74, 126-128, 129, 158 
Young, Mr., Conversations with Mr. Old, 

240-282 

Zeune, Richard, 82 

Ziegler (Caspar) — Facsimile from his 

Album Amicorum, 19 
Zollicoffer, Felix K., 357 
Zubly, John J., 328 
Zuichen, Viglius, 164 
Zwingli, Ulrich, 137, 149, 154 




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